More than 200 traders at the Berekum Central Market in the Bono Region have fallen victim to a large-scale fraud scheme, losing thousands of cedis to a group of con artists who promised to secure them soft loans ranging from GH₵5,000 to GH₵10,000.
According to the victims, the fraudsters posed as officials of a financial support organisation and collected registration and processing fees between GH₵250 and GH₵500 from each trader under the pretext of facilitating access to the supposed loan package.
The scheme, which targeted market women across different sections including the tomatoes line, fish line, materials line, vegetables line, and tubers line has left many traders devastated and struggling to recover their lost funds.
“They told us to register for loans”
The Market Queen of the Dry Fish (Mponam) Line, Nana Akua Serwaa, recounted how she was approached by the group and asked to help mobilise her colleagues for what they believed was a legitimate loan registration exercise.
“They said they had come to provide us with loans and asked me to lead the discussions so that the women could register. We trusted them and paid the registration fees, but after collecting the money, they disappeared,” she said.
Another trader, Madam Beatrice Boabeng, who sells yam, said all efforts to reach the supposed lenders have proven futile.
“After we paid the money, their phones went off. We tried calling and searching for them, but they are nowhere to be found,” she lamented.
Victims call for justice
One of the affected traders, Abenaa Meayaa, appealed to the government and the Ghana Police Service to intervene and track down the fraudsters before more unsuspecting traders fall victim.
“We are pleading with the authorities to help us. These people must be arrested and made to refund our money,” she said.
Local reports suggest the fraudsters managed to flee with several thousands of Ghana cedis, though the exact amount has not yet been verified.
Police sources in Berekum have confirmed receiving complaints from some of the victims and say investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident has sparked fresh calls for greater public education on financial scams targeting small business owners and market traders, who are often lured by promises of quick financial relief.
