A case initially reported as the alleged kidnapping of a 30-year-old man has taken a dramatic turn following fresh claims that the man at the centre of the incident was instead linked to an alleged GH¢44,800 mobile money and bank fraud.
The man was reportedly rescued after claims emerged that he had been kidnapped on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with his alleged captors said to have demanded GH¢45,000 for his release.
However, a resident of Kumasi Afia Adutwumwaa, who addressed journalists on Sunday, September 13, has rejected the kidnapping narrative.
According to her, those picked up by the police yesterday in Kumasi, including her sister, did not kidnap the man.
She alleged that the man, identified as Bismark, was among persons suspected of defrauding her sister.
Teacher allegedly loses GH¢44,800
Narrating the circumstances, Afia said her sister, Mavis Badu, a teacher, was contacted by an unknown person who claimed to have mistakenly transferred GH¢1,000 to her MoMo wallet.
The caller allegedly asked her to return the money, but Mavis reportedly suspected foul play and refused.
She said another caller, a woman who identified herself as Emmanuela, subsequently contacted her sister and claimed to be working with MTN Ghana to track mobile money fraudsters.
According to Mavis, the woman claimed that an attempt was being made to withdraw money from her MoMo wallet and offered to assist her in securing the account.
The alleged caller reportedly instructed Mavis’ sister to reset her MoMo application and provide information and codes purportedly required to secure the account.
Mavis said her sister, who was driving at the time, followed the instructions without fully examining the messages she was receiving.
It was later discovered, she alleged, that GH¢20,000 had been withdrawn from her Ecobank account and GH¢24,800 from her MoMo wallet.
Three numbers were used
Mavis further alleged that three different telephone numbers were involved in the operation.
With the assistance of friends knowledgeable in information technology, the family reportedly managed to trace one of the numbers to a man identified as Bismark.
According to Mavis, arrangements were made for him to come to Kumasi, where he was apprehended and confronted over the alleged fraud.
She admitted that Bismark was beaten and videos were taken during the incident but insisted that he was not kidnapped.
Money allegedly paid to settle matter
Mavis claimed that Bismark pleaded with her sister not to report the matter to the police, promising that his bosses would refund the money.
She said relatives of Bismark subsequently paid GH¢5,000, followed by another GH¢14,500 the next day.
According to her, the family subsequently decided to end the matter and escorted Bismark to a transport station, where they gave him money for transportation to Assin Fosu.
“We gave up on the matter and escorted him to the transport station. We gave him transport fare to go back to Assin Fosu,” she said.
Mavis therefore maintained that the earlier report portraying Bismark as a kidnapping victim was inaccurate.
The competing accounts have now raised fresh questions over what actually happened, the alleged GH¢44,800 fraud, the circumstances surrounding Bismark’s detention and the basis of the kidnapping allegation.
The police are expected to establish the facts surrounding the incident as investigations continue.
By Benjamin Aidoo
