An Accra Circuit Court has for the second time remanded an online pastor into police custody over alleged romance scams involving seven complainants.   

Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, 35, an entrepreneur, is jointly charged with his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, a chartered accountant, with six counts of conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretences.

Inspector Frank Morgan Dorvi, leading the prosecution, opposed bail for Kwarteng, saying he was a flight risk and investigations were ongoing.   

Kwarteng faces additional charges of defrauding by false pretences, resisting arrest, and making, producing and possessing obscene material, while Sally faces an additional charge of making, producing and possessing obscene material.   

The couple has denied the charges.   

The court granted Sally bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties and ordered her to report to the case investigator every Monday and Friday.   

Inspector Dorvi told the court that Kwarteng was a flight risk and that the Police had information that he possessed an international passport that could enable him to leave the jurisdiction if granted bail.   

He said, in the interest of fairness, the Police were ready for an expeditious trial.  

The prosecutor told the court that one of the complainants was incurring substantial hotel and accommodation bills.   

Defence counsel, Mr Yaw Danquah, disputed the prosecution’s assertions, saying his client was not a flight risk and should be admitted to bail.   

Mr Danquah said Kwarteng’s Ghanaian passport was with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).   

He said the allegations against Kwarteng were not supported by evidence and that the prosecution’s submissions amounted to an attack on his client’s character.   

Mr Danquah also argued that Sally had not committed any crime and questioned her prosecution over an allegation that she received a nude picture from her husband.   

The amended facts before the court stated that the seven complainants included an ambassador and businesswomen.   

The prosecution said Kwarteng operated an Instagram page, Nana Bonsu Kwarteng, with about 21,000 followers, on which he presented himself as a pastor.   

It said Sally participated in Kwarteng’s online services by sharing scripture verses on the screen and reading the Bible.   

The prosecution said that in October 2024, Kwarteng contacted the first complainant, who was also a follower on Instagram, and proposed that they become friends.   

It said Kwarteng later told the woman that God had revealed to him that she was his wife and promised to marry her.  

The prosecution said he visited her family in Nigeria and later told her that he was engaged in a lucrative car tyre business.   

It said Kwarteng subsequently demanded and collected $33,000 from her to clear a container of tyres that was incurring demurrage.   

The prosecution said he assured the woman that he would repay the money, knowing that she had borrowed it from a business associate.   

It said when the repayment became due, Kwarteng allegedly began avoiding her and threatened to share and publish her nude videos. The prosecution said Kwarteng shared the woman’s nude videos with Sally.   

The court heard that Kwarteng used a similar approach with the second complainant, whom he met through his online platform and later proposed to marry after visiting her family.   

The prosecution said he collected GH¢25,000 from the second complainant to clear car tyres, with an undertaking to repay the money after the transaction, but allegedly failed to do so and subsequently avoided her.   

It said Kwarteng used similar methods in his dealings with the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh complainants, including proposing marriage and visiting their families.   

The prosecution also alleged that during the relationships, Kwarteng intentionally captured intimate photographs and videos of some of the complainants without their knowledge.   

It said he demanded and collected $4,000, GH¢22,000 and other foreign currencies from other complainants.   

The prosecution said after Kwarteng and Sally realised that the complainants were pursuing them, Kwarteng deactivated his Instagram page while Sally changed hers.   

It said the two accused persons went into hiding after they were wanted by the Police and EOCO. The prosecution said Kwarteng failed to honour repeated police invitations to assist with investigations.   

It said on July 18, 2026, Kwarteng and Sally used part of the money allegedly collected from the complainants to celebrate their marriage ceremony in Kumasi.   

The prosecution said intelligence led to their arrest at a hideout on July 20, 2026, adding that Kwarteng attempted to escape but was recaptured.  

It said investigations established that Sally registered a sole proprietorship company in her name, which was allegedly used to give the complainants the impression that the accused persons operated a legitimate business.   

The prosecution also alleged that investigations uncovered several sexual recordings which Kwarteng had secretly made involving different women and allegedly used to threaten or blackmail them when they demanded refunds.   

It said Kwarteng was also the subject of other similar cases before EOCO and the Nima Police, while investigations indicated that other persons had allegedly fallen prey to the alleged romance scam since 2021.   

The prosecution said additional persons had contacted the Police claiming to have been affected by Kwarteng’s activities, while other women had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter.   

It said investigations were ongoing.