Seven Arrested Over Fake Traffitech-GH Traffic Fine Scam

The Ghana Police Service has warned the public that fraudsters are exploiting its yet-to-be rolled out Traffitech-GH automated traffic enforcement programme to deceive unsuspecting drivers into paying unauthorized fines for personal gain.

Addressing a press conference at the Emergency Command Centre of the National Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, said the criminal scheme had led to the arrest of seven suspects.

She said about a week ago, the attention of the Police Service was drawn to electronic notices of traffic violations purportedly issued by the Service. The messages, which were sent to members of the public, claimed recipients had committed traffic offences and directed them to click on embedded links to pay fines.

“Our Intelligence and Cyber teams were immediately tasked to commence investigations into the matter to get those behind these fake messages arrested,” she said. ACP Ansah-Akrofi noted that the Police subsequently issued a public notice to alert the public that the electronic notifications were false, fraudulent and did not originate from the Service. She announced that an intelligence-led operation had resulted in the arrest of seven suspects linked to the circulation of the fraudulent notices.

Preliminary investigations revealed that monies collected from victims through the fake payment links were routed through multiple mobile money numbers before being consolidated through a mobile money vendor, Martha Quarshie, based at Ada. Acting on the intelligence, a police team proceeded to Ada on February 23, 2026, and arrested Martha Quarshie, Peter Ofori McCarthy and Alfred Kofi Totimeh.

During interrogation, Martha Quarshie disclosed that a man identified as Prosper Otumfour, based in Winneba, regularly sent her funds to be redistributed to other mobile money numbers and a bank account. He was identified as a central figure in the operation. On February 24, 2026, the team moved to Winneba and arrested Prosper Otumfour.

A search of his room led to the recovery of GH¢4,188.00 in cash, multiple SIM cards, mobile phones and laptops believed to be linked to the fraudulent activity. The following day, Martha Quarshie led police to arrest Robert Akplehe, 33, in Ada, who was said to have introduced her to the principal suspect. A search of his room uncovered a Dell laptop, two hard drives and a Samsung Galaxy A22 mobile phone. Another suspect, Christian Akplehe, 32, a mobile money vendor, was also arrested. Items retrieved from his room and shop included three keypad phones, two Samsung smartphones, a GCB GH-Link debit card, a Ghanaian passport, 14 Telecel SIM cards, one MTN SIM card, an ADB E-Zwich card, a Ghana Card bearing the name Duku Rose, and GH¢6,790.00 in cash.

In a related development, Michael Edem Amemornu, 33, was arrested at the Police Directorate when he visited Prosper Otumfour. Investigators identified him as a member of the network and a recipient of proceeds from the fraud. Police investigations have since uncovered the modus operandi of the syndicate. According to ACP Ansah-Akrofi, Prosper Otumfour allegedly registered Telecel Cash SIM cards in the names of family members and associates, including some of the arrested suspects, but retained control of the SIM cards to receive payments from victims.

After receiving funds, he allegedly transferred the money to Martha Quarshie and provided her with the registered numbers for onward redistribution, a layered approach designed to conceal the trail of funds and evade detection. All seven suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations and are expected to be put before court.

Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate who may still be at large. On behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, ACP Ansah-Akrofi commended officers of the Police Intelligence Directorate at the CID Headquarters for what she described as their speed, diligence and professionalism in dismantling the network across Accra, Ada and Winneba.

She further disclosed that the Police Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Insurance Commission and the Ministry of Finance, is engaging Parliament to amend road traffic regulations to enable the rollout of the automated enforcement programme, Traffitech-GH, in the coming months.

Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng explained that when the programme comes into force, all fines would be paid into the Consolidated Fund and not to individuals. He said the system, which is Ghana-made by the Police Service and its partners, would impose an automated fine of GH¢120.00 for certain offences like crossing red light, while speeding would attract GH¢240.00 or more, depending on the extent of the violation.

“The more you exceed the speed limit, the more you pay,” he stated, adding that offences could attract 20 penalty units or more. He explained that penalties would be determined based on the speed limit at the location where the offence was committed. For instance, a driver caught driving at 50 kilometres per hour in a 20-kilometre-per-hour zone would attract 20 penalty units or more.

He added that errand driver ls would have up to 14 days to pay the fine that will attract interest and other consequences. He cautioned motorists that once the law is gazetted and the programme comes into effect, automated systems — described as the Police’s “invisible eyes” — would monitor compliance across the country.

The Police Service reiterated its commitment to protecting the public from fraud and cybercrime and warned that anyone seeking to exploit its name for criminal gain would be swiftly brought to justice.