Two of three brothers accused of impersonating a senior government official to defraud two paramount chiefs in the Central Region of over GH¢300,000 have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 by an Accra Circuit Court.
Nurudeen Rashid, 29, and Nurudeen Gafaru, 20, were admitted to bail with four sureties—two of whom must be traditional rulers and two government employees earning not less than GH¢2,000 each.
All sureties must be justified. Their elder brother, 40-year-old Nurudeen Abdul Ganew, was denied bail due to a prior conviction and being deemed a flight risk.
The three siblings were arraigned before Circuit Court 11, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, on multiple charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, defrauding by false pretence, and impersonation to commit a crime, in violation of provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Prosecutors allege that the trio, who identified themselves as businessmen, impersonated Dr. Callistus Mahama, a former Executive Secretary to ex-President John Dramani Mahama, to lure the victims into a fictitious government vehicle auction.
According to Chief Inspector Jacob M. Kuubal Esq., who is leading the prosecution, in April this year, the accused contacted Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, Paramount Chief of the Abeadze Traditional Area and a former Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, using the number 0552168220.
Posing as Dr. Mahama, the caller informed the chief of a government vehicle auction offering Toyota Land Cruiser and Prado vehicles at attractive prices.
The chief, convinced by the impersonator’s voice and reassured by the mention of familiar government contacts, transferred GH¢50,000 through several MTN Mobile Money accounts, later traced to the accused.
He was later persuaded to involve other chiefs, including Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, Paramount Chief of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, who also transferred GH¢134,400 for one of the purported vehicles.
After receiving the money, the accused reportedly went silent and became unreachable. Daasebre Ewusi VII then made contact with the real Dr. Callistus Mahama, only to realise he had been deceived. A formal complaint was subsequently filed with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Investigations uncovered what officials described as a highly organised fraud ring allegedly led by Abdul Ganew. Authorities say he operated using multiple SIM cards and identities, while his younger brothers, Rashid and Gafaru, helped facilitate the withdrawal and sharing of funds from Wenchi.
They reportedly maintained ledgers with names of targets and amounts collected, and even kept a database of political party officials across all 16 regions, hinting at possible plans for future scams.
During their arrest, law enforcement recovered numerous mobile phones, electronic storage devices, and GH¢14,896 in cash.
Further checks revealed that Abdul Ganew had previously served a 15-year sentence handed down by the Wa Circuit Court for a similar offence.
The court has instructed the prosecution to submit full disclosures and witness statements before the next hearing.
The case has been adjourned to July 29, 2025, as investigations continue to identify additional victims and trace more mobile money accounts linked to the fraudulent operation.