Police trace GH¢400,000 unauthorized momo withdrawal to gold robbery proceeds

The Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has uncovered that an alleged unauthorised withdrawal of GH₵400,000 from a mobile money account is linked to proceeds from a gold robbery and fraud.

The discovery was made during an investigation into a complaint by Francis Ayaaba, who reported being defrauded in a gold transaction in December 2025. According to police, Mr. Ayaaba was lured to a house at Ntoaso, near Nsawam, where he paid GH₵500,000 in cash and transferred GH₵400,000 via mobile money for a quantity of gold. Armed men subsequently arrived and robbed him of the gold.

Police traced the GH₵400,000 mobile money payment to accounts linked to Derrick Okyere Dapaah, known as “Pablo,” a mobile money merchant in Kumasi. Investigators found that Mr. Dapaah moved the funds between his own accounts before the amount was withdrawn by Abudu Dauda, who claimed to be acting on behalf of an accomplice, Alhaji Ibrahim.

Following court orders, the involved mobile money numbers were frozen, and the GH₵400,000 transaction was reversed. The funds are currently being held by police as an exhibit.

Four suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the case: Abudu Dauda, Prince Ofori, William Nene Sakitey Osabotey—a goldsmith and owner of the premises where the transaction occurred—and Derrick Okyere Dapaah, who faces a charge of abetment of crime. All four have been granted bail and are scheduled to reappear in court on April 29, 2026.

Authorities continue their search for two additional suspects, identified only as Alex and Alhaji Ibrahim, who remain at large.