Convicted fraudster Eric ‘Chad’ Afoakwa arrested after seven years on the run

The Ghana Police Service has arrested Eric Afoakwa, popularly known as “Chad,” a convicted fraudster who had been on the run for over seven years after being sentenced in absentia to eight years’ imprisonment for multiple financial crimes.

Afoakwa was apprehended on Monday, July 6, 2026, by officers from the Police Service’s Anti-Armed Robbery Unit while he was allegedly preparing to leave the country. The operation was carried out on the direct orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno.

The convict was originally tried before the Accra High Court in 2019, presided over by Justice Georgina Mensah Datsa. He was found guilty on five out of six charges, including money laundering, defrauding by false pretences, forgery of official documents, and tax evasion. The court sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently, and further ordered him to refund $132,660.00 to the complainant in the case.

Following the judgment, Afoakwa went into hiding, prompting the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to declare him wanted and appeal to the public for information on his whereabouts. EOCO had previously urged anyone with knowledge of his location to contact them via designated phone numbers.

According to a police statement, the convict will be handed over to EOCO to facilitate the enforcement of the High Court’s judgment.

The Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with relevant state agencies to track down fugitives and ensure they face the full rigours of the law.