The Central North Regional Police Command has arrested four persons in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 30-year-old man, Bismark Amoh, in a case involving a reported ransom demand of GH¢45,000. Newscard
The arrests were announced on Monday, September 14, 2026, by the Central North Regional Police Commander, DCOP Abraham Acquaye, during a press briefing.
The police said the operation also led to the rescue of the victim, who was allegedly held captive for more than a week and subjected to severe torture.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly demanded GH¢45,000 from the victim’s relatives in exchange for his release.
The circumstances surrounding the abduction, the alleged motive and the relationship between the suspects and the victim remain part of the ongoing investigation.
The police operation, code-named “Operation Rescue the Victim and Arrest the Perpetrators”, was launched to locate the victim and identify those allegedly responsible. I
nvestigators traced the suspects and the victim to a location in the Ashanti Region, where the rescue and arrests were carried out.
DCOP Acquaye identified the four arrested suspects as Mavis Badu Acheampong, 42, a teacher at Kumasi Girls Senior High School and a resident of Breman UGC; Charles Doku, 53, a security guard and resident of Breman UGC; Oteng Baffour, 31, an electrician and resident of Breman UGC; and Kenneth Opoku Kwarteng, alias Culture, whose age has not yet been confirmed.
Kenneth Opoku Kwarteng is also identified as a teacher at Kumasi Girls Senior High School. The police have not publicly detailed the specific alleged role played by each of the four suspects in the reported kidnapping. Editorial Standards
In addition to the arrests, the police are searching for another suspect described as a senior military officer. According to the police, the officer is alleged to have orchestrated the incident.
The identity of the officer and the precise nature of the alleged involvement have not been publicly disclosed in the information released so far.
The allegation involving a serving senior military officer adds another dimension to the case and is likely to attract further attention as investigators work to establish the full circumstances of the reported abduction.
The police search remains ongoing, and no conclusion about the officer’s culpability can be drawn unless supported by evidence and determined through due legal process.
Kidnapping cases involving ransom demands are treated as serious criminal matters because they can expose victims to physical harm, psychological distress and prolonged uncertainty for their families. In this case, the reported torture of the victim has heightened concerns about the seriousness of the alleged offence.
The police’s decision to launch a targeted rescue operation reflects the urgency typically associated with cases in which a person is believed to be held against their will.
Such operations require investigators to gather intelligence, trace suspected locations and coordinate efforts to secure the victim while pursuing those allegedly responsible.
The recovery of the victim is an important development, but the investigation is expected to continue as police seek to determine how the alleged kidnapping was planned, where the victim was held, how the ransom demand was communicated and whether other individuals were involved.
Authorities may also examine any financial transactions, communications, vehicles, locations or other evidence that could help establish the sequence of events.
Such evidence could be relevant in determining the charges eventually brought against the suspects.
The four arrested persons are expected to assist investigators as the police build their case.
Their arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt, and they remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The police have not yet indicated when the suspects will be put before court or provided details about possible charges.
Further updates may be issued as investigations progress and the search for the alleged military accomplice continues.
The case highlights the importance of swift reporting and coordinated law-enforcement action in responding to alleged kidnapping incidents.
It also underscores the need for investigations to be conducted thoroughly and transparently, particularly where the allegations involve public officials or members of the security services.
For now, the Central North Regional Police Command says its efforts remain focused on securing justice for Bismark Amoh, establishing the facts surrounding the alleged kidnapping and bringing all persons found to be responsible before the appropriate legal authorities.