The Ghana Police Service has arrested 11 suspects for allegedly using AI-generated deepfake videos to impersonate President John Dramani Mahama online.
The arrests were carried out by the Police Cyber Vetting Enforcement Team during a series of operations in parts of the Volta Region. Some of the suspects are believed to be Nigerian nationals.
The suspects have been identified as Anipah Jonathan, 23; Dzamesi Bright Kofi, 35; Thomas Ayoyo, 17; Louis Segbawu, 18; Raphael Ablordeppey, 32; Bishop Esiri, 46; Wisdom James, 25; Ali Lucky, 23; Edwin Edos, 22; John Kofi Darlington, 20; and Danu Peter, 19.
Police say several items were retrieved during the operation, including laptops, mobile phones, internet routers, 120 pre-registered SIM cards, and a Nigerian-registered Mercedes Benz ML 350 with registration number LSR 138HR from Lagos.
According to a police situational report, the Cyber Vetting Enforcement Team conducted coordinated operations between May 1 and May 3, 2026, at Sogakope, Dabala, Tongu, Akatsi, and Aflao following intelligence on a group allegedly involved in creating and circulating fake AI-generated videos impersonating President Mahama.
Police said additional cyber tracking operations on May 4 led to the arrest of five more suspects in Aflao. Four of them are Nigerians while one is Ghanaian.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly used AI-generated content to fraudulently solicit money and sensitive personal information from unsuspecting members of the public through online platforms.
“It was further established that the suspects are part of a wider network engaged in the creation and dissemination of fraudulent digital contents designed to impersonate high-profile personalities for financial gains,” the police report stated.
Nine of the suspects have since been remanded into police custody and are expected to reappear before court on May 25, 2026.
The remaining two suspects, Thomas Ayoyo and Louis Segbawu, were granted bail with two justified sureties.
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