‘Powder Guy’ denies $32,000 visa fraud charges

Ibrahim Kailani Kpa, commonly known as “Powder Guy,” a social media influencer and tiler from Oyarifa-Teiman in Accra, has denied allegations of defrauding seven individuals of $32,000 by promising to help them secure visas to Nicaragua, Canada, and the United States. Kpa is accused of collecting money from the complainants, which he claimed would be used to facilitate their travel, but ultimately failed to secure the visas.

When he appeared before the Accra Circuit Court, his lawyer requested bail. However, the prosecution opposed the application, stating that the investigation was still ongoing. The court ultimately granted Kpa bail in the amount of GH¢400,000 with three sureties, one of whom had to be a family member, and the other two required to provide copies of their Ghana Cards and passport photographs.

The court also ordered Kpa to report to the case investigator as directed. According to the prosecution, the accused targeted Dramani Iddris and six others, who were convinced by Kpa's social media posts advertising visa facilitation services and even advertised slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The complainants, after being convinced by Kpa's representations, contacted him individually and paid varying sums from $2,000 to $9,000, totaling $32,000, to secure their visas. Kpa allegedly assured them that their visas would be secured within two weeks to one month. However, several months later, no visas were issued, and Kpa became unreachable, blocking the complainants from communicating with him while his whereabouts remained unknown.

The prosecution stated that Kpa subsequently went into hiding with his alleged accomplices, Jalil, Chapman, and Danlad, who failed to provide the locations of the visas or secure the visas.