Attorney-General Moves to Consolidate Romance Scam Cases Against Online Pastor
The Attorney-General’s Department has begun processes to consolidate two separate criminal cases involving Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, a self-styled online pastor accused of allegedly defrauding women through romance scams, and transfer the consolidated case to the High Court.
The development emerged when the matter was called before Accra Circuit Court One, where an Attorney from the Attorney-General’s Department informed the court that the two cases currently pending before Circuit Courts One and 10 would be consolidated and subsequently transferred to the High Court.
The Police have also submitted their disclosures ahead of the case management conference.
Kwarteng, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, is standing trial alongside his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, a Chartered Accountant.
The couple faces six counts of conspiracy to commit crime, specifically conspiracy to defraud by false pretences.
Sally is additionally facing charges relating to the making, production and possession of obscene material. Kwarteng, on the other hand, faces additional charges of defrauding by false pretences, resisting arrest, as well as making, producing and possessing obscene material.
Both accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Sally has meanwhile been granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000, with two sureties. The court also directed her to report to the case investigator every Monday and Friday.
The prosecution’s amended facts state that there are seven complainants, including an ambassador and several businesswomen.
According to the prosecution, Kwarteng operated an Instagram account under the name Nana Bonsu Kwarteng, which had approximately 21,000 followers. Through the platform, he allegedly portrayed himself as a pastor and conducted online religious services.
The prosecution further alleged that Sally actively participated in the online services by displaying Scripture passages on screen and reading portions of the Bible. She is also alleged to have been aware of her husband’s activities.
The prosecution said Kwarteng first established contact with the first complainant, who was an Instagram follower, in October 2024. He allegedly approached her with a proposal that they become friends.
During their relationship, Kwarteng allegedly told the woman that he had received a revelation from God indicating that she was destined to become his wife. He subsequently promised to marry her.
According to the prosecution, Kwarteng travelled to Nigeria and visited the woman’s family. He later allegedly informed her that he was involved in a profitable car-tyre business.
The prosecution said Kwarteng subsequently requested and received US$33,000 from the woman, claiming that the money was needed to clear a container of tyres that had allegedly accumulated demurrage charges.
He allegedly assured her that the money would be repaid, despite knowing that she had borrowed the funds from a business associate.
However, when the repayment period arrived, Kwarteng allegedly began avoiding the woman. The prosecution said he later threatened to release her nude videos and allegedly shared some of the videos with his wife, Sally.
The prosecution further alleged that Kwarteng adopted a similar method with the remaining six complainants.
He allegedly approached the women with marriage proposals, visited their families and subsequently obtained various amounts of money from them, claiming that the funds were required to clear car tyres.
The prosecution said Kwarteng collected GH¢25,000 from the second complainant and subsequently demanded and received US$4,000, GH¢22,000 and other foreign currencies from some of the other women.
It was further alleged that Kwarteng secretly captured intimate photographs and videos of some of the complainants and later used the materials to threaten or blackmail them when they demanded the return of their money.
According to the prosecution, the situation escalated after the complainants began making efforts to locate and pursue the accused persons.
Kwarteng allegedly deactivated his Instagram account, while Sally also changed her social media account details.
The prosecution said the couple subsequently went into hiding after they were declared wanted by the Police and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
It is alleged that Kwarteng and Sally used part of the money obtained from the complainants to finance their marriage ceremony, which took place in Kumasi on July 18, 2026.
Two days after the ceremony, on July 20, 2026, intelligence reportedly led law enforcement officers to a hideout where the couple was arrested.
The prosecution alleged that Kwarteng attempted to escape during the arrest but was eventually recaptured.
Investigations, according to the prosecution, also established that Sally had registered a sole proprietorship in her name. The company was allegedly used to create the impression that the couple was operating a legitimate business.
The prosecution further told the court that investigations had uncovered several secretly recorded sexual videos involving different women. Kwarteng is alleged to have used the videos as a means of threatening and blackmailing some of the victims.
The prosecution also disclosed that Kwarteng is facing other cases being investigated by EOCO and the Nima Police.
Investigators have reportedly found that several women may have fallen victim to Kwarteng’s alleged activities dating back to 2021.
The prosecution said additional alleged victims had since contacted the Police, while other women had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over Kwarteng’s alleged activities.
The prosecution maintained that investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
The case has been adjourned to September 8, 2026, when the matter is expected to come before the court again.
Credit to adomonline
