Ghana Police Service in Yendi arrest Abdul Rahaman Zakaria and others for impersonating President’s son on TikTok
The Ghana Police Service in Yendi has arrested Abdul Rahaman Zakaria and at least two other suspects for allegedly impersonating Sharaf Mahama, the son of President John Dramani Mahama, on the popular social media platform TikTok.
According to police reports, the suspects are accused of setting up and running a fake TikTok account under the name “Sheriff Mahama,” where they reportedly presented themselves as the president’s son and engaged in various personal activities. The account is said to have attracted more than 7,500 followers and thousands of likes, raising concerns that it could mislead members of the public and potentially be used for harmful purposes.
Police in Yendi launched an investigation after receiving intelligence on the fraudulent account, which eventually led to the arrest of Zakaria and the others. While the identities of the additional suspects have not been fully disclosed, authorities confirmed that both male and female individuals are currently in custody and assisting with ongoing investigations.
Officials say the case forms part of a wider effort by law enforcement to clamp down on cybercrime, online impersonation, and related offences, especially as social media platforms become increasingly influential and vulnerable to misuse.
Impersonating a public figure or government official on social media is a criminal offence under Ghanaian law, and the Ghana Police Service has reiterated its warning that offenders will be dealt with accordingly if found guilty.
Police have also urged social media users to verify accounts claiming to represent well-known personalities and to report any suspicious or fraudulent profiles to the relevant authorities to prevent misinformation and potential scams.
Investigations into the case are ongoing, and the suspects are expected to be charged in court once the police complete their inquiries.
