Eleven suspects have been arrested by the police for allegedly using a deepfake AI-generated video to impersonate President John Dramani Mahama.

The arrests were carried out by the Cyber Vetting Enforcement Team of the Ghana Police Service. Some of the suspects are believed to be Nigerian nationals.

The suspects have been identified as Anipah Jonathan, 23; Dzamesi Bright Kofi, 35; Thomas Ayoyo, 17; Louis Segbawu, 18; Raphael Ablordeppey, 32; Bishop Esiri, 46; Wisdom James, 25; Ali Lucky, 23; Edwin Edos, 22; John Kofi Darlington, 20; and Danu Peter, 19.

Police retrieved several items during the operation, including laptops, mobile phones, internet routers, 120 pre-registered SIM cards, and a Nigeria-registered Mercedes-Benz ML 350 with registration number Lagos LSR 138HR.

According to a police situational report, the Cyber Vetting Enforcement Team conducted coordinated cyber operations between May 1 and May 3, 2026, across Sogakope, Dabala, Tongu, Akatsi, and Aflao in the Volta Region. The operations followed intelligence on a group allegedly involved in creating and circulating an AI-generated video impersonating President Mahama.

The report further stated that on May 4, 2026, additional cyber field tracking operations led to the arrest of five more suspects — four Nigerians and one Ghanaian — who were allegedly engaged in similar online fraudulent activities in Aflao.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects used AI-generated content to fraudulently solicit money and sensitive personal information from unsuspecting members of the public through online platforms.

“It was further established that the suspects are part of a wider network engaged in the creation and dissemination of fraudulent digital contents designed to impersonate high-profile personalities for financial gains,” the report said.

Police said nine of the 11 suspects have been remanded into custody and are expected to reappear before the court on May 25, 2026. The remaining two suspects, Thomas Ayoyo and Louis Segbawu, have been granted bail with two justified sureties each.