Detty December: Police Probing Alleged Kidnapping, Extortion of US Woman Visiting Ghana
- The Ghana Tourism Authority said police are looking into the alleged kidnapping and extortion of an American tourist
- The authority released a statement to assure both locals and travellers that the country remains a safe destination
- The statement was in response to claims that some police officers had recently extorted $400 from a foreign tourist
The Ghana Tourism Authority has said police are investigating reports that an American visiting Ghana was kidnapped and extorted by individuals said to be police officers.
The authority said both the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority are treating the case with urgency and will provide updates upon completion of their work.
Source: Getty Images
The US victim, Ari Mackey, was visiting Ghana for Detty December and went viral after alleging that police officers in uniform took about $400 from her.
The authority, in a Facebook statement, further reassured tourists and the general public that Ghana continues to be a safe and reliable destination.
"Ghana remains open, secure, and welcoming. Visitors should have full confidence in their safety."
The Ghana Tourism Authority also advised visitors seeking assistance or information to make contact on 057 957 9019 or 030 700 7100, or via WhatsApp at 054 635 2240.
The Ghana Police Service also released a statement on Facebook on the issue, saying that it was trying to reach Mackey, who has since left the country.
What did Mackey say in her video?
In a post on December 7, the American content creator accused officers within the Ghana Police Service of kidnapping and robbing her.
In a video shared to over 34,000 followers on TikTok on December 7, Mackey claimed that she ran into a Ghana Police checkpoint on the night of December 6 while out with friends.
According to her, they were in an Uber when they were stopped by officers with masks and no name tags, who were in a patrol vehicle with its license plates covered.
"I was kidnapped and robbed by the police in Ghana. I was kidnapped by three masked police officers. They covered their license plate, they had no name badges, and they completely covered their faces."
Source: TikTok
When she spoke, she said they realised her accent was not Ghanaian, and the alleged police officers decided to extort money from her since she was a foreigner.
Mackey said the officers took her cash, phones and cameras and also placed them in their vehicle for a ride.
She said she was eventually forced to withdraw some more cash from an ATM to pay them off.
“They heard my accent, and they decided they were going to take us. They checked our bags and our bodies, and when they looked in my bag and found I had cash, they decided I needed to get in the car. They told me to get in the car. I tried to ask why and if there was anything else we could do to handle this, but they said no. They got mad every time I tried to ask a question.”
US woman quits job, relocates to Ghana
Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that an American lady quit her job to relocate to Ghana to start her own business.
In a video, the woman shared her experiences running a shea butter business in the country, sparking many reactions.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
