- The scammers specifically targeted individuals from Togo
- The scammers collected GH¢434,000
- The victims were subjected to serious human rights violations
Fourteen individuals, including two women, who orchestrated a deceitful scheme targeting 31 hopeful victims from Togo, have been apprehended by authorities.
The accused, originally from Togo but recently relocated to Ghana, masqueraded as representatives of a U.S.-based travel agency.
They deceived victims with fake promises of visas and employment, drawing them to Ghana where their funds were stolen.
Desperate for a better future, the victims were instructed to pay GH¢14,000 or CFA 560,000 to secure a spot in the purported program. Unbeknownst to them, they were entering a trap.
Aged between 22 and 43, the perpetrators had established a fraudulent office in Sokode-Lokoe, which appeared legitimate. They collected payments, seized their victims’ phones, and imprisoned them.
Victims faced physical and emotional abuse; some were locked in rooms for days without food or water, forced to sleep on the floor, and subjected to beatings. One victim reported being assaulted for attempting to escape, while another was threatened with deportation unless additional money was paid.
A 25-year-old woman, having been held captive for three days and coerced into surrendering GH¢10,000, managed to escape and report the scam to the authorities. The police quickly intervened, arresting the 14 suspects and rescuing over 50 victims.
As the accused appeared before the Ho Magistrate Court, presided over by Albert Owusu Annor, the extent of their crime became evident. They had embezzled GH¢434,000, leaving their victims financially devastated and emotionally distressed.
The court has remanded the accused in custody until August 30, 2024, as the investigation continues. The victims, many of whom had sacrificed significant assets or taken out loans to afford the scam’s fees, are now in severe financial straits.
One victim, a 30-year-old man, recounted selling his family’s farm to pay the fee, lamenting, “I was promised a job in the U.S., but now I have nothing.”
The community is outraged by the scale of the fraud, demanding severe penalties for the perpetrators. “This is a betrayal of trust,” said a local resident. “These scammers must face justice.”
Ghanaian authorities have vowed to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable and that the victims receive the necessary support.
