The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with the Cyber Security Authority and National Security, has arrested a pastor in connection with offences involving a minor, including defilement and the production and possession of child sexual abuse materials.

The Director General of CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, made the announcement during a press conference on Monday, March 9, providing details of the joint operation and the ongoing investigation.

The suspect, Ebenezer Kondua, aged 45, is the lead pastor at Mahanaim Christian Centre in Ankaful, Cape Coast.

He was apprehended in Waraba, a suburb of Iguasi, during a joint intelligence-led operation in the early hours of March 6, 2026.

Investigations revealed that the suspect operates a Facebook profile under the name Reverend Dr. Kondua, where he presents himself as a trained gynaecologist and international marriage counsellor.

Evidence indicates that in August 2021, he invited a then 13-year-old junior high school student into his home under the guise of providing spiritual counselling and behavioural correction.

From that point, he allegedly subjected the minor to repeated sexual abuse over an extended period.

“The suspect repeatedly subjected the survivor to sexual abuse and recorded videos of the acts on his mobile phone,” COP Donkor said.

“In some instances, he forced the survivor to hold up materials, display an adult pornographic website, and state on camera that she was accessible on that platform with apparent intent to distribute such content online.”

The abuse was uncovered when the survivor confided in her school headmistress. A complaint was subsequently filed with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Cape Coast, and a formal case was referred to the Cape Coast Circuit Court.

During the arrest, authorities recovered various items from the suspect’s home, now undergoing forensic analysis.

These include one HP laptop, three external hard drives, five pen drives, a mobile phone, a tablet, electronic vibrators, assorted contraceptives, lubricants, a used pregnancy test, and two ladies’ panties.

With the technical assistance of the Cyber Security Authority, forensic investigators found evidence of child sexual abuse material production and discovered three private pornographic website accounts on the suspect’s digital devices.

The suspect was previously charged with defamation of a female child under 16 and child pornography offences.

Upon his re-arrest on March 8, 2026, he faced a new charge of possessing an indecent image or photograph of a child, under Sections 62 and 63 of the Cybersecurity Act 2020, Act 1038.

He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court on March 27, 2026.

COP Donkor emphasised that the arrest reflects Ghana’s ongoing commitment to child protection, particularly in the online environment.

“This case underscores the commitments made at the highest levels of our institutions—the Ghana Police Service, the Cybersecurity Authority, and National Security—to ensure that every child is safe and protected online,” she said.

The Director General highlighted the importance of combating online child sexual exploitation (OCSE), which includes grooming, sextortion, production and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, and live-streamed abuse.

She noted the pivotal role of the CID and the Child Protection Digital Forensic Laboratory in investigating such crimes, alongside efforts by the Cybersecurity Authority and international partners, including UNICEF.

“The Ghana Police Service, the Cybersecurity Authority and National Security want to assure the public that this case is being handled with the utmost seriousness and that all necessary legal actions will be taken to ensure justice,” COP Donkor stated.

“Our commitment remains unwavering to utilise technology and collaboration to make Ghana’s digital space safer for every child.”