Dada Joe shipped out, as Ghana Begins Seizure of Assets
After a protracted legal battle, Isaac Oduro Boateng, notoriously known as “Kofi Boat” and dubbed the “Sakawa chairman” of East Legon, has finally capitulated to a US extradition request.
This paves the way for the alleged romance scam kingpin to face justice in America, where he is accused of swindling vulnerable individuals out of an estimated $100 million.
Boateng’s concession at the Gbese Magistrate Court marks a significant turning point in a case that has seen Ghanaian authorities, including Interpol and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), begin the process of confiscating his assets and crime proceeds.
Two Weeks to Recant
Kofi Boat now has a two-week window to reconsider his decision. Should he not change his mind, his extradition to the United States is expected to be completed within 60 days.
In a swift response to the court’s order, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has already initiated temporary measures to manage companies linked to Boateng. This follows a directive issued last week by the Gbese Magistrate Court in Accra.
Accused of Widespread Fraud
Boateng is facing prosecution in the US alongside three alleged accomplices: Inusah Ahmed, also known as “Pascal”; Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”; and Patrick Kwame Asare, known as “Borgar”.
While Boateng, Ahmed, and Yeboah are currently in police custody in Ghana, Asare remains at large.
The quartet is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated network that defrauded unsuspecting businesses and individuals seeking companionship online, with the total illicit gains reportedly exceeding $100 million.
Interim Management for Businesses
On Friday, June 27, the Attorney-General dispatched a letter to the acting Registrar of Companies, requesting the establishment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee two businesses registered in Boateng’s name: Ice Food Limited and EMB Foods Limited.
The Attorney-General’s letter stipulates that the Registrar of Companies should appoint two members to the IMC, with one representative from EOCO. The fugitive himself is permitted to appoint the third member.
This IMC will assume control and management of the companies until the conclusion of Boateng’s trial in the US.
“The transfer of the control and management of companies be completed by July 5, 2025,” the letter, signed by Dr. Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney General, on behalf of Minister Dr. Dominic Ayine, stated. It further advised contacting the Acting Executive Director of EOCO for assistance in appointing an official to the IMC.
Court Order and Previous Revelations
The decision to surrender Boateng for extradition was made on June 26, 2025, by Her Worship Magistrate Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi at the Gbese Magistrate Court in Accra. The Attorney-General’s actions are in line with Section 13A of the Extradition Act, 1960 (Act 22), which mandates the establishment of an IMC for the management of companies in such cases.
Last month, The New Republic (TNR) published documents from the US Department of Justice, detailing accusations against the four individuals for spearheading a vast network involved in elaborate romance scams and Business Email Compromises (BECs) dating back to at least 2016.
According to the US indictment, Boateng and Ahmed allegedly served as the “chairmen” of the enterprise, directing operations, while Yeboah and Asare held high-ranking positions, with Yeboah directly engaging in romance scams.
Despite being unmasked in 2023, their extradition has reportedly been hindered by alleged complicity within Ghanaian authorities.
Modus Operandi and Charges
The fraudsters’ method was disturbingly effective: they would cultivate fake romantic relationships with often elderly and vulnerable online victims, then manipulate them into wiring substantial sums of money under various false pretenses.
They also employed sophisticated BEC tactics, impersonating company employees to deceive businesses into transferring funds.
The stolen proceeds, referred to as “clean money” by the perpetrators, were allegedly laundered through “middlemen” in the United States who operated shell companies. These intermediaries would take a percentage before funnelling the remaining funds to the “chairmen” and other members in West Africa.
The indictment outlines five charges against the defendants: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Conspiracy to Receive Stolen Money, and Receipt of Stolen Money.
Specific acts cited include the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars from romance scam proceeds for laundering in mid-2020.
