– Expose Politicians in $100m romance scam
By Gifty Boateng
The walls are closing in on Ghana’s political elite. Whispers of “official complicity” are growing louder as busted culprits of romance crime in police custody drop names of politicians who have benefited from proceeds of the infidel financial crime.
Our intelligence indicates that previous attempts to apprehend these fraudsters two years ago mysteriously fizzled out, raising serious concerns about potential high-level protection.
Even worse, this paper has gathered that, since their arrest, several politicians and business chiefs have been running over each other to rescue the suspects who are currently undergoing extradition process to be send back to the US to face justice.
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) nabbed Isaac Oduro Boateng, the notorious 35-year-old member of the East Legon Executive Club and alleged mastermind behind a staggering $100 million romance scam that preyed on unsuspecting Americans.
The CID of the Ghana Police Service has busted Boateng, a key figure in the notorious “sakawa” operations, who has been on the run from US authorities.
Sources within the CID confirm that Boateng was apprehended alongside two of his criminal associates, Inusah Ahmed alias Pascal and Derrick Van Yeboah alias Van. Their fourth partner, Patrick Kwame Asare alias Borgar, remains at large, with police hot on his heels.
For nearly a decade, from 2016 to 2023, this syndicate ran a sophisticated scheme, preying on businesses, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals across the United States. They siphoned off millions through a complex web of accounts controlled right here in Ghana.
Documents from US authorities reveal that Boateng and his gang have been on Interpol’s radar since 2023, with an extradition request looming over their heads. It appears the long arm of the law is finally catching up.
The government of President John Mahama initiated the extradition process in March. A letter intercepted by The New Republic, signed by Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, formally requested an arrest warrant from an Accra district magistrate.
This followed a direct request from US diplomatic representatives, citing relevant sections of the Extradition Act, for the apprehension of Boateng, Ahmed, Yeboah, and Asare.
The Minister, confirming their presence in Ghana, urged the court to grant the warrant. “Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister for the Interior by section 7 (1) of the Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22), the following order is hereby made.
It is hereby signified that a requisition has been made to me as aforesaid and you are hereby required in accordance with the provision of Section 7 (1) of the Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22) to issue a warrant for the apprehension of the said Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick Van Yeboah and Patrick Kwame Asare,” the letter, dated March 18, 2025, stated. Official Complicity?
Despite the extensive duration of their operations, which spanned elaborate romance scams and business email compromises, there has been a puzzling lack of action from security agencies to dismantle their enterprise.
Our intelligence indicates that attempts to capture them two years ago fizzled out, raising questions about potential official complicity.
“This sakawa operation has been on Interpol’s radar for a considerable time,” our intelligence sources revealed.
“With this particular case, Ghana would have itself to blame if the extradition request put in by the US authorities is not adhered to, particularly at a time America is issuing threats here and there to countries with restriction bans.”
Now, cooling his heels in police custody, Boateng has started to sing like a canary, dropping names of his powerful beneficiaries. Among those implicated are high-profile politicians from both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Preliminary police investigations reveal that Boateng has been a significant sponsor, primarily backing members of the opposition party, NPP and some within the NDC.
While this paper has obtained some of these names, we are withholding them for now for obvious reasons, pending further developments.
Described by US authorities as one of the two chairmen of this vast criminal enterprise, Boateng and his cohort allegedly defrauded victims of up to $100 million by weaponizing “love.”
Boateng has reportedly used portions of his ill-gotten gains to sponsor these political figures, some of whom have successfully contested national elections for their respective parties.
In his “naming and shaming” sessions within the police cells, Boateng, also known as Kofi Boat, provided proof of communications, including WhatsApp conversations, displaying figures exchanged with these politicians.
With the Donald Trump administration determined to crack down on criminal activities, and recent warnings of travel bans on over 30 countries, mostly from Africa, there are growing fears that Boateng’s extradition to the US could expose these politicians and land them in deep trouble.
Law enforcement sources indicate that the American government is closely monitoring Ghana’s readiness to cooperate in stopping the defrauding of its citizens.
The US, already considering expanded travel restrictions globally, is poised to crack down on countries and individuals, including politicians, who might attempt to obstruct or stall Boateng’s extradition.
Just days ago, the US confirmed it is considering restricting entry to citizens from an additional 36 countries, a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s earlier travel ban.
This list includes 25 African nations, notably Ghana, Egypt, and Djibouti, as well as countries in the Caribbean and Central Asia.
An internal memo, reportedly from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to diplomats in these nations, outlined a dozen concerns, including unreliable identity documents, questionable passport security, and a failure to cooperate in removing nationals ordered to leave the US.
This isn’t the first time a Ghanaian has faced the music for romance scams. In 2023, socialite and musician Mona Faiz Montage, popularly known as Hajia4Real, was sentenced to a one-year and one-day prison term at the Federal Detention Centre in Philadelphia.
The 32-year-old was convicted for conspiracy to receive stolen money in connection with an $8 million West African-based criminal enterprise.
Interestingly, Hajia4Real was never arrested in Ghana. Her downfall came when she was apprehended by Interpol and UK officials at Heathrow Airport in November 2022 while traveling for the Ghana Music Awards-UK.
The question now is, will Ghana act swiftly and decisively in the case of Isaac Oduro Boateng, or will the nation risk further international sanctions?