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Police arrest suspects in child exploitation, murder and trafficking cases- CID boss confirms
The Ghana Police Service has announced major breakthroughs in several criminal investigations, including child sexual exploitation, murder, cybercrime and child trafficking cases across the country.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the police continued to record significant successes in the fight against serious crimes.
She said three Ghanaians had been arrested for allegedly producing and sharing indecent images and videos involving children in the Ashanti and Bono regions.
According to her, the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Australian Federal Police and Interpol after intelligence revealed that an Australian suspect standing trial had received child sexual exploitation materials from facilitators in Ghana.
She explained that investigations by Interpol Accra and the Child Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Unit led to the rescue of four children between the ages of six and 13.
“All three suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations while the victims are receiving care and support,” she said.
Ms Donkor noted that some of the suspects were relatives of the victims, including an older brother and a mother.
She warned that child sexual abuse remained a serious offence punishable by imprisonment and assured the public that the police would continue to work with international partners to fight such crimes.
On a separate case, she said the CID had arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Theophilus Ashite Amma, a 27-year-old car dealer whose burnt body was found inside a vehicle at Adenta Fuel Link on the Legon Bypass in April this year.
She identified the suspect as Omtete, who was described as a close friend and neighbour of the deceased.
According to her, the suspect was arrested in Togo through Interpol collaboration while allegedly attempting to sell the deceased’s mobile phone.
Investigations, she said, showed that the suspect allegedly lured the victim to his house under the pretext of selling a vehicle, attacked him and later burnt the body and vehicle in an attempt to destroy evidence.
She added that CCTV footage captured the suspect at the scene.
Ms Donkor said the suspect had been remanded into police custody while investigations continued.
The CID boss also announced the arrest of Joshua Kojo Anani Buati, a 36-year-old entrepreneur from East Legon, over the alleged non-consensual sharing of intimate images online.
She said investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly drugged female victims with sedatives, sexually abused them, recorded the acts and shared the videos on a Telegram platform known as “VIP Sleek Fetish 2025.”
According to her, police retrieved mobile phones, laptops, memory cards and other electronic devices during a search at the suspect’s residence.
“The electronic devices have been retained for forensic examination,” she stated.
In another development, Ms Donkor said police had arrested Lucinda Naomi Otri, a midwife at Trust Mother and Child Hospital at Osu, for allegedly taking part in a child trafficking syndicate.
She alleged that the suspect paid money to facilitate the transfer of missing children and instructed that another child be sent to a couple living at Pokwase.
She said investigations into the case began after the disappearance of seven-year-old Khadija Kareem in Kasoa.
According to her, police later linked the suspects to another child stealing case involving a 10-month-old baby and a five-year-old girl.
She said the infant and Khadija Kareem had since been rescued, but the five-year-old girl was still missing.
The police, she added, were appealing to anyone with information about the child’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
Meanwhile, the CID has also arrested a 25-year-old fetish priest and herbalist in connection with the murder of Joyce Ekua Ankoma, whose mutilated body was found at Ewutu Bintum in the Central Region.
Ms Donkor said investigations revealed that the deceased had visited the suspect for spiritual assistance before he allegedly attacked and killed her.
She said the suspect later led police to locations where parts of the deceased’s body had been buried.
The CID Director-General thanked Interpol, the Australian Federal Police and authorities in Togo for supporting the investigations.
She commended the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and officers involved in the operations for their dedication and professionalism.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has successfully conducted constituency executive elections in 245 out of its 276 constituencies across the country.
The party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the exercise recorded an 88.7 per cent success rate and was conducted peacefully in the constituencies where voting took place.
In an update posted on his Facebook page, he said elections in 23 constituencies were put on hold because of various disputes.
He added that four constituencies Ningo Prampram, Atwima Mponua, Obuasi West and Trobu could not hold their elections due to last minute challenges.
According to him, the party’s National Steering Committee will also review election activities in Afigya Sekyere East, Adansi Asokwa, Bantama and Asante Akyem Central.
Mr Frimpong said the National Secretariat is committed to resolving all outstanding issues to ensure the successful completion of the constituency executive elections.
He expressed appreciation to members of the party for their support and discipline throughout the exercise.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to all Patriots for their commitment, discipline, and support, which contributed to the successful conduct of these elections,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested two Nigerian nationals in connection with the murder of a 36-year-old Nigerian man at Sanzirigu in Tamale.
The suspects, identified as Daniel Victor Eze and David Oko Ewa, were arrested on Saturday, July 11, shortly after the body of Nkemujika Uzorchuku Eze was found in his bedroom.
According to the Police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased lived in a three-bedroom apartment with his wife, Peace Uzorchuku, the two suspects and another Nigerian national, Godwin Nwafor.
The Police said officers began investigations after receiving a report that the deceased had been found lying in a pool of blood in his room.
A team that visited the scene found that he had suffered a deep cut to the forehead and had a towel stuffed into his mouth. The room had also been ransacked.
The Police said a wooden pestle believed to have been used in the attack, together with other items, was recovered from the scene for forensic examination.
The body was taken to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where a medical officer confirmed him dead before it was deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and an autopsy.
According to the Police, intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of the two suspects at Tatale on the same day while they were allegedly attempting to escape into the Republic of Togo.
They were later handed over to the Tamale District Criminal Investigations Department to assist with investigations.
The Police said the suspects allegedly admitted during interrogation that they had conspired to kill the deceased because he had been withholding money they claimed was obtained through internet fraud.
A search conducted after their arrest led to the recovery of several items suspected to have been stolen from the deceased’s room, including mobile phones, laptop computers, a tablet, jewellery, clothing, wristwatches, personal documents and other valuables. The Police said the items have been kept as exhibits to support the investigations.
The suspects remain in Police custody and are expected to appear before court on Monday, July 13, to facilitate the ongoing investigations.
The Northern Regional Police Command said it remains committed to bringing everyone involved in the crime to justice and urged the public to provide credible information to help fight crime.
By: Jacob Aggrey
