By Beatrice Oppon
The State has filed fresh charges against two persons Promise Ahorgah, a mobile phone repairer, and Kwaotse Mawuli, a building construction labourer who allegedly impersonated MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.
The two persons are accused of creating a social media account in the name of the North Tongu MP to solicit funds on behalf of the people who were affected by the Akosombo and Kpong Dam Spillage.
Prosecutor Nancy Korkor Hammond said further investigations have uncovered new discoveries, which necessitated replacing the previous charge sheet with a new one.
The prosecution said the accused persons are also allegedly involved in more offences with the NDC’s National Women Organiser Dr Hannah Bissue and MP for Asuogyaman Thomas Ampem-Nyarko as the latest victims.
The Court adjourned to January 15, 2025 for the pleas of the two accused persons to be taken on the amended charge sheet.
Following the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage which caused flooding at some parts of the Volta Region, a flyer was designed with the inscription ‘North Tongu MP’s Disaster Donation Drive,’ with a short code requesting the public to donate to support the victims.
The Prosecution said the accused persons with the intent to defraud allegedly took copies of the flyer on social media, modified it and inserted their phone numbers on the flyer.
They then published the fake and deceitful flyers on social media, requesting cash donations through their phone numbers. The two are also accused of using the name and photographs of the North Tongu MP to create several social media accounts, personify the MP, and communicate with several people to solicit donations through their mobile money accounts.
The accused persons allegedly succeeded in causing the public to transfer sums of money to them through their acts of personation and publication of deceitful advertisements.
