The Kwabenya District Police Command has taken into custody four field officers of Bills Micro-Credit Limited following a disturbing incident in which a mother carrying a baby was allegedly assaulted during a loan recovery attempt at Ashongman Estate.
The arrests, effected on Sunday, March 15, 2026, come days after a video capturing the confrontation went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and reigniting discussions about the tactics employed by some microfinance institutions in recovering debts.
According to a police statement signed by Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs for the Accra Region, the complainant, 42-year-old Hagar Emaser, reported to the police on March 13 that four men identifying themselves as officials from Bills Microfinance had visited her residence to demand repayment of a loan facility. During the encounter, she alleged, the men assaulted her.
The suspects have been identified as Denis Wornyo, 38; Albert Amarh, 40; Ebenezer Amartei, 23; and Atsu Lawson, 27. They are currently in police custody assisting with investigations, having already provided caution statements to investigators.
The widely circulated video footage shows the officers engaged in a heated argument with the woman over an alleged failure to repay a GH¢300 loan.
In the clip, one of the officers is seen seizing the woman’s mobile phone. As she attempts to retrieve the device while still holding her baby, she loses her balance and falls to the ground. The footage has drawn widespread condemnation from members of the public and civil society groups who have decried the use of force in debt recovery.
In a separate development, Bills Micro-Credit Limited issued a statement confirming that the officers captured in the video had been suspended with immediate effect following a directive from the company’s board, pending the outcome of investigations.
The company condemned the incident and indicated that it had commenced internal inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The Accra Regional Police Command has taken the opportunity to caution the public, urging victims of assault and other criminal acts to report such incidents promptly for investigation.
The Command further advised individuals with grievances relating to loan transactions or other civil matters to seek lawful and peaceful means of resolution rather than resorting to self-help or intimidation.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of debt collection practices in Ghana’s growing microfinance sector, with observers calling for stricter regulatory oversight to protect vulnerable borrowers from harassment and intimidation.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and the suspects remain in police custody pending further inquiries.
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