Police arrest notorious car rental fraudster; accomplice on the run

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has apprehended a man believed to be the mastermind behind a nationwide car rental fraud scheme.

According to a statement issued by Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Public Relations Officer for the Command, the suspect—identified as 37-year-old Nana Anderson—was arrested on April 5, 2025, at a hideout in Atasemanso, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Anderson, who is currently unemployed, is said to operate under several aliases, including Anderson Nana Abeka, Essel Kofi Elvis, and Wilson Kojo Bismark.

His alleged accomplice, known as Gideon Baah, remains at large.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Anderson fraudulently secured a Hyundai Elantra with registration number GT 114-25 on March 25, 2025. The vehicle had been rented from a partner of the complainant using falsified ECOWAS identification and a forged driver's license, both of which carried his photo but bore different names. The handover took place at Community 25 in Tema.

After collecting the vehicle, Anderson reportedly failed to return it and disabled its tracking device to avoid detection.

Further investigations linked Anderson to a larger criminal syndicate responsible for a string of similar vehicle thefts across the Greater Accra Region between January and March 2025. The stolen vehicles include a Kia Forte from Hatso, a Honda Civic from Amasaman, and a Kia Ultima from Spintex. It is believed Anderson earned GH¢4,000 per stolen vehicle.

During interrogation, Anderson confessed to the crimes and led investigators to a residence in Millennium City near Kasoa, believed to be the hideout of his accomplice Baah. However, Baah, also known as “Nana,” was not found at the location.

Superintendent Obeng assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fugitive. Anderson has since been arraigned as investigations continue.