Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng Arraigned for Serial Romance Scams as Courts Deliver Sentences in Somanya and Abroad

The Ghana Police Service has apprehended Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, a self-proclaimed pastor accused of operating a sophisticated romance scam network that targeted women through online church services. Kwarteng, who conducted his religious activities primarily on Instagram, allegedly lured victims into false marriage promises by meeting their families and presenting promise rings to build trust. Once a relationship was established, he reportedly defrauded the women of thousands of dollars by claiming to run a fictitious tyre business. The suspect is also accused of collecting intimate images from his victims, which he later used for blackmail. Kwarteng has been remanded in custody to face charges including conspiracy to commit fraud and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, while his accomplice and wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, has been granted bail as investigations into seven reported cases dating back to 2021 continue.

In a separate legal development at the Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court, 23-year-old commercial tricycle rider Nicholas Adjarlolo was sentenced to seven years in prison for the defilement of a 13-year-old Junior High School student. The incident occurred in Sawer, a suburb of Somanya, and the presiding judge, Kwasi Appiatse Abaidoo, found Adjarlolo guilty under Section 101(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960. The ruling emphasizes the judiciary's strict stance on crimes against minors, ensuring that such acts are met with significant custodial sentences to serve as a deterrent to others in the community.

Further highlighting recent criminal proceedings, 60-year-old Christopher Phillips has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison for a bizarre and fraudulent scheme involving the concealment of his mother’s death. Phillips admitted to keeping the body of his mother, Sylvia Phillips, in a chest freezer for nearly three years following her death in 2023. During this period, he maintained a false narrative that she was still alive, even engaging in daily conversations with her as if she were present, all while illegally collecting over £78,190 in pension and other benefits. The court condemned his actions as a failure to provide a decent burial and a calculated effort to defraud the state.

These diverse cases reflect a broader trend of law enforcement and the judiciary tackling complex issues of fraud, sexual violence, and financial exploitation. From the exploitation of religious trust in romance scams to the violation of child safety and the desecration of the deceased for monetary gain, the legal system remains under pressure to protect vulnerable citizens. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, particularly regarding online interactions and the protection of minors, while encouraging additional victims of the alleged romance scam to come forward to assist in the ongoing prosecution of Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng.