A man believed to be part of a well-organized cybercrime network has been remanded into custody by the Accra Circuit Court after being implicated in a sexual extortion case involving a 37-year-old woman in Accra. The syndicate is said to operate both within and outside Ghana’s Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.
Charges Brought Against the Accused Include:
Sexual Extortion – in violation of Section 66 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038)
Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images – under Section 67 of the same Act
Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Extortion – contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 66 of Act 1038
Conspiracy to Distribute Intimate Images Without Consent – under Section 23(1) of Act 29 and Section 67 of the Cybersecurity Act
Presiding over the case, Her Honour Susana Eduful ordered the remand following an application from the prosecution, which outlined the extensive reach of the group and the psychological toll it had taken on the victim.
Investigators say the network exploited the anonymity of digital platforms to extort money by threatening to release sexually explicit material.
Between July 2023 and March 2025, the accused and his accomplices allegedly coerced the victim into sending them money after obtaining intimate visuals through deceit.
The key figures identified in the network include “Ramzy,” who remains at large; Michael Tumi, a recently released ex-convict; William Ekpe, currently serving a sentence at Nsawam Prisons; and James Afoakwa, another fugitive.
According to Chief Inspector Margaret Ofori Boadi, the prosecutor in the case, the victim was first targeted in 2022 through a Facebook account operated under the alias “Ramzy.”
The individual posed as a Ghanaian military officer based in the United States and gradually built an online relationship with the woman. Through regular video calls and emotional manipulation, the victim was convinced to share private images and videos.
Trouble began when “Ramzy” requested a GH¢4,000 transfer to a contact in Ghana. Sensing a scam, the woman ended all communication and blocked the user. Shortly after, she began receiving the same private content via WhatsApp, accompanied by threats to publish it unless she paid GH¢2,000 to a mobile money account.
Fearing public embarrassment and reputational damage, the woman sent the money. But the extortion didn’t stop.
Over several months, the perpetrators continued their threats, prompting the victim to finally report the matter to the Ghana Police Service in October 2024.
Police investigations led to the identification of Michael Tumi, who was found to have received part of the funds.
He was released from Nsawam on June 7, 2025. Further tracking of mobile transactions and intelligence gathering revealed connections to William Ekpe, who is still incarcerated, and two others who remain at large.
The syndicate is believed to have used over 50 different phone numbers in their operations, often targeting vulnerable individuals through social media platforms and romance scams. Law enforcement officials describe the group as part of a growing “Romance Scam Syndicate” exploiting digital tools to blackmail unsuspecting victims.
The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025, while police continue efforts to apprehend the two remaining suspects, “Ramzy” and James Afoakwa.
Police have also advised the public to exercise caution when interacting with unknown persons online and to report suspicious activity promptly.
