The Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET) of the Ghana Police Service has arrested 11 persons, including five Nigerians, for allegedly using deepfake artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos to impersonate President John Dramani Mahama in online fraud schemes.
The suspects were arrested during coordinated cyber operations carried out between May 1 and May 4, 2026, across Sogakope, Dabala, Tongu, Akatsi and Aflao in the Volta Region.
According to the police, the first operation conducted between May 1 and May 3 led to the arrest of Raphael Ablordeppey, 32; Anipah Jonathan, 23; Dzamesi Bright Kofi, 35; Thomas Ayoyo, 17; and Louis Segbawu, 18, following intelligence on a syndicate allegedly involved in the creation and circulation of AI-generated videos impersonating the President.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly used the fake videos to deceive unsuspecting members of the public into sending money and disclosing sensitive personal information through online platforms.
A second cyber field tracking operation on May 4 resulted in the arrest of five Nigerians and one Ghanaian in Aflao for allegedly engaging in similar fraudulent online activities.
The second group of suspects were identified as Bishop Esiri, 46; Wisdom James, 25; Ali Lucky, 23; Edwin Edos, 22; John Kofi Darlington, 20; and Danu Peter, 19, the only Ghanaian among them.
During the operations, the police retrieved several items believed to have been used in the alleged criminal activities.
The exhibits included laptop computers, mobile phones, internet routers, 120 pre-registered SIM cards and a Nigerian-registered Mercedes Benz ML 350 with registration number LSR 138HR.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, indicate that the suspects are part of a wider criminal network involved in the production and dissemination of fraudulent digital content aimed at impersonating high-profile personalities for financial gain.
The suspects were arraigned before court on May 6, 2026. Nine of them were remanded into police custody to reappear on May 25, 2026, while Thomas Ayoyo and Louis Segbawu were granted bail with two justified sureties each.
The post 11 Arrested Over Deepfake Videos Impersonating President Mahama appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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