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Abu Trica charged in $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans
A Ghanaian national has been charged in the United States for his alleged role in a romance scam that took more than $8 million from elderly victims across the country.
A Federal Grand Jury in the Northern District of Ohio has indicted 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, from Swedru in Ghana.
The indictment, which was unsealed on Thursday December 11, 2025, describes him as part of a criminal network that used online romance schemes to defraud victims.
He was arrested in Ghana on the same day.
According to U.S. authorities, the group used Artificial Intelligence tools to create fake identities.
They contacted victims mostly elderly people through social media and online dating platforms and built trust through frequent phone calls, emails, and messages.
The authorities said the scammers pretended to be in romantic relationships with the victims and later asked for money under false claims such as medical emergencies, travel needs, or investment opportunities.
The indictment states that once the victims sent money or valuables, Kumi worked with others to move the funds across the United States and then transfer them to partners in Ghana and other countries.
They mentioned that Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification.
According to them, he faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The U.S authorities added that his final sentence, however, would depend on the court’s assessment of his criminal history and his role in the alleged scheme.
U.S. officials remind the public that an indictment is only an accusation and not proof of guilt. The government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
They revealed that the FBI Cleveland Division led the investigation, with support from several agencies in both the U.S. and Ghana.
These include Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, NACOC, the National Intelligence Bureau, and U.S. agencies such as the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The case forms part of the United States’ Elder Justice Initiative, which focuses on protecting older people from abuse, neglect, and financial scams.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abena Osei Asare has expressed concerns about the failure of the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Mr. Paul Adjei to honour invitation of the Committee to assist in dealing with abandoned projects cited in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
She emphasised that some of the projects have been abandoned for more than 20 years and it kept reoccurring in the Auditor-General’s report yearly, stressing that the GETFund Administrator could assist by prioritising these projects.
However, he has failed to personally appear before the Committee since the commencement of the Committee’s public hearing in the 9th Parliament.
According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s report on Pre-University Educational Institutions, nine (9) Institutions with 16 projects awarded by the GET Fund Secretariat had been abandoned/delayed for a period ranging between three (3) and 28 years.
Some of the affected schools include Adanwomoase Senior High School (Boys and Girls dormitory abandoned for 12 years), Atoa Senior High School (Home Economics Block abandoned for 27 years), Beposo Senior High School (Dinning Hall and Kitchen Complex abandoned for 10 years and lastly KNUST Senior High School (Three storey classroom block abandoned for 20 years).
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy continued its oversight responsibilities with a working visit to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) yesterday.
Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, said the visit formed part of efforts to familiarize members with the Authority’s operations and to explore ways Parliament could provide the necessary support.
He explained that the NPA’s work is focused on regulating Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, a critical area for national energy security.
Mr. Bedzrah noted that the Committee is particularly interested in assessing whether the country has adequate petroleum stock to meet demand.
He noted that rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing US–Iran conflict, could have adverse effect on Ghana’s energy supply and pricing.
He further disclosed that the Committee intends to engage closely with the Authority on a proposed new petroleum bill.
According to him, a draft of the legislation will be reviewed and possibly presented to Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
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