State eyes fresh charges for Ablakwa impersonaters, Hannah Bissue, Ampem-Nyarko latest victims

State Prosecutors are set to file a fresh charge sheet against the two men who have been arraigned for impersonating the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following recent discoveries.

According to the prosecution, further investigations have revealed that the accused persons are involved in more offenses, with the National Democratic Congress' Women Organiser, Hannah Bissue, and Thomas Ampem-Nyarko, Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, as the latest victims.

The two—Promise Ahorgah, a phone repairer, and Kwaotse Mawuli, a building construction laborer—are said to have created social media accounts in the name of the North Tongu MP to solicit funds on behalf of victims affected by the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillages.

They have pleaded not guilty to six counts of allegedly defrauding unsuspecting Ghanaians and have been granted GH₵50,000 bail each.

In court on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Joyce Yinsoma Tindana, a State Attorney holding brief for the substantive attorney, Watkins Adama, stated that following extensive investigations, "the republic is inclined to file new charges."

"I have instructions to inform my lady (the Court) that the office (Attorney General’s Office) has recently received the case docket from the investigator after requesting further investigations into the matter," the State Attorney said.

"Considering the volumes of documents brought to our attention, and the fact that similar offenses have been discovered by the republic regarding the accused persons, some of which involve the impersonation of other public figures like Hon. Thomas Ampem-Nyarko (MP, Asuogyaman) and Hannah Bissue (NDC, National Women Organiser), among others," she told the Court.

"In light of the extensive investigations conducted and new discoveries made, the republic is inclined to file new charges and compile all relevant documents for disclosure," she informed the Court.

They were arrested on December 13 by the National Signals Bureau.

The counts comprise two counts each of defrauding by false pretenses, charlatanic advertisement, and falsely pretending to be a public officer.

Brief facts

Per the brief facts of the case, the complainant is the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and a resident of Accra.

The first accused person is a mobile phone repairer, while the second accused person is a building construction laborer.

The prosecution stated that following the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillages and the subsequent flooding of certain parts of the Volta Region, the complainant developed a flyer with the inscription 'North Tongu MP's Disaster Donation Drive,' with the shortcode *713*75#, requesting good Samaritans to donate in aid of the flood victims.

The prosecution stated that the first and second accused persons, with intent to defraud, took copies of the complainant's flyer on Facebook, modified the flyer, and inserted their respective phone numbers.

"Holding themselves out as the complainant and causing the general public to wrongly believe they were the complainant, the first and second accused persons published the fake and deceitful flyers on social media platforms, requesting the general public to make cash donations into their mobile phone numbers 0535623416 and 0535364971, respectively," the prosecution said.

The brief facts added that the first and second accused persons also used the names and photographs of the complainant to create several social media accounts, impersonated the MP, and communicated with several people to solicit donations into their mobile money accounts.

"Through their acts of impersonation and publication of deceitful advertisements with the intent to defraud, the first and second accused persons succeeded in causing members of the public to send them sums of money," the Court was told.

The prosecution said the complainant, who chanced upon the fake flyer on social media, petitioned the National Signals Bureau, and the accused persons were arrested.

"Both the first and second accused persons admitted to the offenses when interrogated. The investigation is still ongoing," the prosecution said.