A 29-year-old journalist has been remanded in police custody after pleading guilty to defrauding a student nurse of GHC23,700 under the guise of performing a spiritual cleansing ritual.
Kingsley Awatey, a journalist with Kumasi-based Alpha Radio, was remanded by the Nsuta Circuit Court on Tuesday, 18 August, after admitting to the charge of defrauding by false pretences.
The court, presided over by Simon Nketiah Gagah, adjourned the case to September 2 for conviction and sentencing.
Prosecutors, led by Chief Inspector Owusu Kobi Moses, told the court that the complainant, Hannah Donkor, met Awatey on public transport in January 2026.
The two exchanged contacts and later entered into a romantic relationship, according to the prosecution.
Awatey allegedly told Donkor that his grandfather was a fetish priest who had discovered that her former boyfriend had used her vaginal fluid to cause her spiritual harm.
He allegedly claimed that the situation required a spiritual cleansing and collected a total of GH¢23,700 from her for the purported ritual.
The prosecution said Awatey never took Donkor to the alleged fetish priest.
In June, he allegedly demanded an additional GH¢900 from her. When she refused, he allegedly warned that disclosing the matter could result in her being involved in a fatal road accident.
Fearing for her safety, Donkor reported the matter to the Regional Crime Investigations Department in Mampong on July 29.
The prosecution said Awatey subsequently went into hiding before being arrested at his hideout on August 14.
In his caution statement to police, Awatey admitted receiving money from Donkor but disputed the amount, saying it was less than the GH¢23,700 alleged by the complainant.
The court has ordered him to refund the money, which will be considered as a mitigating factor during sentencing.
Awatey remains in custody pending his next appearance on 2 September.
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