A Cape Coast Circuit Court has remanded into police custody one Patrick Nii Torto for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting individuals by falsely posing as a staff member of the Office of the Vice President and a captain in the Ghana Armed Forces to secure Canadian visas and work permits.
Torto, who also operated under the alias Dr Patrick Nelson Ayittey, is accused of swindling his victims of GH¢5,325 and GH¢8,200 respectively. He reportedly convinced them that he had strong connections with the Canadian Embassy in Ghana to facilitate their travel and employment opportunities abroad.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretences when he appeared before the court presided over by Madam Nana Aba Quiaba Nunoo on Tuesday.
The court, however, remanded him into police custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
Police say Torto was arrested from his hideout at Abura in Cape Coast following a complaint lodged at the Abura Police Station on Monday, February 16.
According to prosecutors, the suspect carried out the fraudulent activities between December 2025 and January 2026. Despite repeated demands, he failed to refund the monies paid by his victims.
During a search at his residence, police recovered about 10 Ghanaian passports belonging to various individuals, along with school certificates, birth certificates, Ghana Cards and other personal documents.
Further police enquiries confirmed that Torto is neither an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces nor a staff member at the Office of the Vice President. He also has no known affiliation with the Canadian Embassy in Ghana.
Authorities added that the suspect is not a medical doctor nor does he hold any doctorate degree, contrary to the title “Dr” he used in his dealings.
Torto is expected to reappear before the Cape Coast Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for mention of the case.