The Ghana Police Service has arrested two suspects for creating and circulating AI-generated deepfake videos targeting John Dramani Mahama and the First Lady, Lordina Mahama.
The arrests, carried out on March 28, 2026, followed intelligence-led operations by the IGP’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, supported by digital forensic analysis and field surveillance.
Investigators say the suspects were behind high-quality deepfake videos that began circulating online from March 26, 2026, using manipulated visuals of the President and First Lady to deceive the public and facilitate financial scams.
According to police, one suspect, 41-year-old Bernard Mensah, also known online as Charity Quaicoe, allegedly operated fake accounts impersonating the First Lady to defraud unsuspecting victims. He was first tracked to Kasoa and later arrested at Kokrobite, where he is currently in custody assisting with investigations.
In a related operation, a second suspect, Michael Ebo Safo, was arrested at Anyan Abaasa in the Central Region. Police say he is linked to a fake Facebook account impersonating the President. His arrest followed hours of surveillance during a funeral gathering.
Authorities warn that the creation, distribution, or promotion of deepfake and fraudulent digital content is a criminal offence under Ghanaian law.
The Police say they have intensified online monitoring and will continue to track down individuals using digital platforms to spread disinformation or defraud the public.
They are also urging citizens to be cautious—verify content before sharing—and remain alert to online scams as investigations continue.
By paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
