Woman arrested for publishing fake news over alleged kidnapping claim

A woman identified as Elizabeth Acquah has been arrested by the Western Central Regional DOVVSU Command for publishing false news.

According to the police in a statement dated November 18, 2025, the news published by the suspect generated fear and panic among the public.

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Providing details of the incident, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Western-Central Region, Assistant Superintendent of Police Beatrice Turkson, stated that the suspect, Elizabeth, recorded a video of a couple during a dispute and circulated it online, alleging that the man had kidnapped his partner.

“The Western Central Regional DOVVSU Command has arrested a suspect, Elizabeth Acquah, also known as "Yaa Lizzy," for publishing false news that caused public fear and panic.

The police said that a complaint was lodged by the male victim, 22-year-old Joseph Cann, at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) office on November 17, 2025, after the video went viral, which compromised his safety.

According to the police statement, the victim explained that he had a misunderstanding with his 20-year-old girlfriend, who is a student, while driving from Tarkwa to Bogoso.

“On Monday, 17th November 2025, the victim, Joseph Cann, aged 22, reported to the DOVVSU Office that on 2nd November 2025, while driving from Tarkwa to Bogoso with his girlfriend, Felicia Ofori Atta, aged 20 and a student, a misunderstanding arose between them. To resolve the issue amicably, he stopped the vehicle at Yareyeya, a community along the route,” it narrated.

The statement added that while they were trying to resolve their misunderstanding, a group of mourners, including the suspect Elizabeth, confronted Cann and falsely accused him of kidnapping his female partner.

Videos recorded by the suspect were circulated online, which the police claimed sparked fear and panic among the public.

“While they were settling the matter, the suspect, Elizabeth Acquah, who was among the mourners at a funeral in the area, confronted the complainant with false accusations that he had kidnapped his girlfriend. She is further alleged to have assaulted him and recorded videos of Joseph Cann, his girlfriend, and the vehicle.”

It added, “The suspect subsequently posted the videos on social media, falsely claiming that a child had been kidnapped. The content quickly went viral and generated public fear and panic.”

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Meanwhile, the police have cautioned against the spread of unverified claims and information, adding that anyone found culpable will be punished under the law.

“The Western Central Regional Police Command urges the public to desist from circulating false information and reminds the public that spreading misleading content on social media is a criminal offence punishable by law.”

Read the statement below:

MAG/MA

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