By Philip Antoh
The Central North Regional Police Command, led by DCOP Abraham Acquaye and Regional Crime Officer Chief Supt. Agyemang Badu, has successfully dismantled a kidnapping, torture, and extortion syndicate.
The operation code-named ‘Operation Rescue the Victim and Arrest the Perpetrators,’ was coordinated by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohonu and involved specialized personnel from the CID Headquarters, the PID Ashanti Region, and the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit.
Following the intelligence-led operation, police rescued 30-year-old Bismarck Amo and apprehended four key suspects currently in custody.
The suspects are Mavis Badu Acheampong, 42, a teacher at Kumasi Girls Senior High School, Charles Doku, 53, a security guard, Oteng Baffour, 31, an electrician and Kenneth Opoku Kwarteng (alias Culture), a teacher at Kumasi Girls Senior High School.
All suspects reside in Breman UGC
Facts of the Case
Preliminary investigations reveal that on September 3, 2026, the victim, Bismarck Amo, allegedly defrauded suspect Mavis Badu Acheampong of an unspecified amount. In retaliation, Acheampong allegedly conspired with her husband—a senior military officer currently outside the country—to lure the victim from Assin Fosu to Kumasi. Upon his arrival on September 6, 2026, Acheampong, assisted by Doku, Baffour, and others now at large, kidnapped Mr. Amo.
Torture and Extortion The suspects held the victim hostage at Acheampong’s private residence until September 11, subjecting him to severe torture. Despite the family paying a ransom of GHS 19,500.00, the captors continued their abuse. In a bid to evade police tracking, the syndicate used their personal mobile phones for all communications.
The victim endured horrific brutality, including being stripped naked, having his genitals tied with a nylon rope, and being beaten until he bled profusely from his head and genitals.
The suspects filmed these acts and sent the videos to the victim’s family to demand an additional GHS 45,000.00, claiming it covered the defrauded amount and operational expenses.
They later demanded a further GHS 30,500.00 under threat of execution.
The Rescue
The family reported the ordeal to the Regional CID in Assin Fosu on September 8, 2026, after the initial payment failed to secure the victim’s release.
Police immediately activated tracking and rescue teams. On September 11, realizing police were closing in, the suspects attempted to move the victim to a new location.
Tactical teams intercepted the vehicle mid-transit, rescuing Mr. Amo, who was partially unconscious and covered in severe bruises and blood.
Current Status Mr. Amo is currently receiving urgent medical treatment for physical and psychological trauma at a medical facility under police escort.
The four arrested suspects remain in tight police custody and are being processed for court. A manhunt is underway for the senior military officer and other accomplices.
The Police Administration warns the public against taking the law into their own hands, regardless of provocation.
The Service remains committed to ensuring justice under the strategic oversight of the IGP. Photographs of the suspects have been released to the media to aid in the investigation.