Accra: A 20-year-old woman, identified as Promise Yayra Asamani, has been arrested by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly spreading false claims about an Uber driver on social media, leading to serious repercussions for the victim.
According to Ghana Web, Promise Yayra Asamani was picked up by the Police Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team after she failed to respond to an official invitation to assist with investigations into the viral post. The case was triggered by a complaint from a 43-year-old driver, Selasie Kwaku Anthonio, who was falsely accused in a Snapchat post of being a 'murderer and a thief,' with additional claims that he used signal jammers and carried weapons.
The post, which included his photograph and vehicle details, quickly gained traction, resulting in distress calls from clients and relatives. His account with the car-hailing service was also suspended, reportedly cutting off his source of income. "Following the viral spread, the complainant received numerous distressing calls from family and customers. Subsequently, Uber blocked his account, depriving him of his livelihood. He also expressed significant fear for his life due to the risk of public hostility," the report said.
Investigations by the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team led to the arrest of Stephanie Asamani, a sister of Promise Yayra Asamani, on Friday, March 13, 2026, at her residence in Cambodia, Spintex in Accra. During interrogation, Stephanie reportedly told investigators that on March 9, 2026, at about 2 PM, she had booked a ride from Spintex to Oyibi with the complainant as the driver. She reported a series of concerns during the ride, including the driver's request to change the drop-off location and a phone call he made in Ewe, which she found suspicious.
Stephanie further claimed she observed a rag and a hammer in the boot area of the vehicle and alleged that the driver suddenly stopped at the Toyota Motors Roundabout, leading to a verbal altercation after which she exited the vehicle. She later narrated the incident to her sisters and sent a screenshot of the driver's profile to her younger sister, Promise Yayra Asamani.
Despite lacking evidence, Promise reportedly published the allegations to, supposedly, 'create awareness.' She later admitted during interrogation that the claims were unverified. The suspect has since been granted police enquiry bail, while authorities continue investigations and warn the public against the dangers of spreading unverified information online.