A farmer and spiritualist, Sammed Yussif, has been arraigned before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding four persons of GH¢10,700 under the pretext of doubling the money.
He was before the court presided over by Mrs Bernice Mensimah Ackon, but his plea was not taken. He has been charged with four counts of defrauding under false pretences contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The case, scheduled for a hearing on April 9, 2026, could not proceed as the court did not sit. It has been adjourned to April 20, 2026.
Brief background
According to the prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiabor, the complainants are a chop bar operator, Mary Danquah; two miners, Bashiru Asamoah Mohammed and Kwame Owusu, and a trader, Elizabeth Cudjoe.
He noted that all the complainants reside at Wassa Nkran near Tarkwa in the Western Region. Ms Danquah and Mr Mohammed are a couple. The accused lived at Barekese, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The prosecutor said that in December 2025, the couple travelled to Kumasi to visit family members, where they met the accused, who was known to them as a family friend. The accused later followed them to Tarkwa under the guise of engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
The prosecutor added that two weeks after arriving in Tarkwa, the accused approached Ms Danquah and told her he could help her get money through a spiritual process known as money doubling. He then asked her to give him GH¢9,000, promising to turn it into GH¢200,000.
Ms Danquah informed the other complainant and her husband, who also showed interest in the offer. Her husband gave the accused GH¢1,000, with the promise that it would be increased to GH¢50,000.
ASP Ahiabor explained that the third complainant, Ms Cudjoe, also approached the accused and told him about her personal challenges, including her husband leaving her and her difficulty in conceiving.
The accused allegedly then demanded GH¢700 to buy items for rituals to help her husband return and assist her to conceive. He also collected an additional GH¢2,000 from her with the promise of “doubling” it to GH¢100,000.
The prosecutor noted that the fourth complainant, Owusu, also paid GH¢1,000 to the accused, with the expectation that it would be increased to GH¢50,000.
After collecting the monies, the accused told the complainants he was travelling to Kumasi to purchase items needed for the rituals. He later returned with a bag containing white papers cut in the shape of currency notes and assured them that the money would soon be ready.
The prosecutor added that two weeks before the Ramadan period, the accused again travelled to Kumasi, claiming he needed to purchase additional items for the process. However, he failed to return, and all attempts by the complainants to reach him by phone proved unsuccessful.
He said that on March 26, 2026, Ms Danquah and Mr Mohammed travelled to Kumasi to search for him. They reported the matter to the police at Barekese, who helped them to arrest the accused.
The prosecutor said the accused was later handed over to the Tarkwa Police with bundles of white papers.
During investigations, the accused refunded GH¢4,000 and promised to pay the remaining amount within two weeks.
The prosecutor noted that during interrogation, the accused admitted collecting money from the complainants but claimed the total amount was GH¢10,700, not GH¢14,700 as alleged.
He also stated that part of the issue arose because the first and second complainants failed to pay him GH¢2,000 after he allegedly performed rituals for them.
Source:
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