By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ghana Police Service in Yendi has arrested two individuals for allegedly impersonating Sharaf Mahama, the son of former President John Dramani Mahama, on the social media platform TikTok.
According to the Police, the suspects—a male and a female—created and operated a fake TikTok account under the name “Sheriff Mahama,” falsely presenting themselves as the former president’s son. The account reportedly gained more than 7,500 followers and attracted thousands of likes, raising concerns about the potential to mislead the public and exploit the identity of a public figure.
The male suspect has been identified as Abdul Rahaman Zakaria. Both suspects are currently in police custody and assisting with investigations, as authorities work to establish the motive behind the impersonation and whether it was linked to any form of fraud or other cyber-related offences.
Police say the arrests form part of ongoing efforts to combat online impersonation and cybercrime, which have seen a rise in recent years with the growing use of social media platforms. Law enforcement agencies have expressed concern that fake accounts purporting to represent well-known personalities are increasingly being used to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, sometimes for financial gain.
The Police further cautioned that impersonation of public figures online is a criminal offence under Ghanaian law, and offenders may face prosecution if found guilty. They urged social media users to verify accounts claiming to belong to public figures and to report suspicious or fake profiles to the appropriate authorities.
The Police also appealed to the public to exercise caution when interacting with online accounts, especially those that request money, personal information, or offer opportunities that appear too good to be true.
Investigations into the case are ongoing, and the Police say further updates will be provided as necessary.
