Police arrest suspect over GH¢1.1m fake gold scam at Berekum

On August 17, 2026, the Bono Regional Police Command apprehended a 36-year-old man, Gyamfi Christian, in relation to a suspected fraudulent gold transaction occurring in the Berekum Municipality. The arrest transpired at a clandestine location in Wamfie, situated within the Dormaa East District, subsequent to intelligence-driven investigations.

The case was initially reported by Christopher Awuni, a 29-year-old gold aggregator, who informed the Police that four men, posing as gold vendors, sold him 110 troy ounces of gold for an exorbitant sum of GH¢1.1 million in July 2026. However, upon conducting a thorough examination, the gold was discovered to be counterfeit. The fraudulent items are currently being maintained by the Police as crucial pieces of evidence.

During the interrogation process, Gyamfi Christian confessed to his involvement in the transaction and divulged that the deal took place at Drobo, an area within the Jaman South Municipality. He also implicated three other individuals - Abraham, known as Frenchman and believed to be the group's ringleader; Isaac Antwi; and Balthazar - as potential accomplices. As of now, the three suspects remain at large.

Further preliminary investigations have unveiled that the group allegedly defrauded another individual of GH¢1.4 million in a separate transaction at Drobo earlier this year. The suspect is currently under police custody and is actively cooperating with the ongoing investigations. Simultaneously, law enforcement agencies are diligently working on apprehending the remaining members of the alleged criminal syndicate.

In a bid to prevent similar fraudulent activities, the Bono Regional Police Command has issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to exercise vigilance while engaging in gold transactions. Any suspicious activities should be promptly reported to the relevant authorities.