Entertainment
Hajia4Real extradited to US to face trial for alleged role in $2M romance scam

Prominent Ghanaian Influencer and musician, Hajia 4Real known in private life as Mona Faiz Montrage has been charged for an alleged role in Romance Scheme.
Against this backdrop, she was extradited from the United Kingdom where she has been basing for some time now to the United States of America.
According to the US Attorney Department in a press release, Mona Faiz Montrage Received Over $2 Million in fraud proceeds and pretended to marry one victim to further the Fraud Scheme.
This notwithstanding, they indicated in the release that the charges contained in the Indictment were merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The statement added that “Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in a series of romance schemes and for laundering the proceeds of those schemes. Montrage was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023. Montrage will be presented before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, to whom the case is assigned, later today. “
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims. Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other publicly filed materials, “From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, Montrage was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the United States, including romance scams.”
Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who had, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise,” the statement revealed.
They added that “ Montrage received money from several victims of romance frauds whom members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to Montrage were (i) payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas; (ii) payments to resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation; and (iii) payments to assist a fake United States army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.”
“As to one victim, Montrage used her real name and spoke to the victim several times by phone. MONTRAGE sent the victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that MONTRAGE and the victim had been married in Ghana. The victim sent MONTRAGE approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with MONTRAGE’s father’s farm in Ghana.
In total, Montrage controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise,” the statement added.
According to the US Attorney Attorney’s office, “The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of MONTRAGE will be determined by a judge.”
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI, and thanked the United States Marshals Services, the National Extradition Unit, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI Legal Attaché in London for their assistance in the investigation.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom.
Montrage is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile, under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.
Montrage , 30, of Accra, Ghana, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Montrage is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
Entertainment
Maiden AshantiFest held on Easter

The AshantiFest, instituted to mark Easter in the Ashanti Region, was marked a lot of entertaining activities.
According to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the idea to stage a festival was conceived after a request from some youth at a clean-up exercise.
“The whole concept of the Ashanti Festival is to bring out our various sectors, showcase what we have as a region and see how best we will be able to promote inter-sectorial support for each other,” he said.
The festival, which kick-started on April 12, commenced with a clean-up exercise in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts in the Ashanti Region.
A football game between sports presenters and Kumawood actors sparked excitement in the region, and a boxing night followed at the Parade Grounds of KNUST.
There was also a stage play featuring Kumawoood All Stars in ‘Kejetia vs Makola was a highlight , offering both entertainment and though provoking moments.
At the Food Fair and Bazaar held at the Kumasi Cultural Centre, a variety of indigenous Ashanti food was on display, attracting many patrons within the city.
It offered the stage for other cultures to promote their cuisine. The Ghanaian traditional fabrics and locally manufactured clothing featured prominently at the event grounds.
A Science and Technology Fair was also featured as part of the education activities.
A blood donation exercise featured alongside the health screening exercise, which was also opened to the public.
Among the celebrities that graced the occasion were The CEO of the National Film Authority ,Kafui Danku, Actress Nana Ama Mac Brown, Nana Hayford, Funny Face and Kweku Manu.
Others were Bukom Banku, Vivian Jill, Wayoosi, Oboy Siki, Oheneba Jude and Sumsum Ahuofe.
Source; Myjoyonline
Entertainment
Europe Edition of ‘The Journey” show is impacting lives- Abena Ghana

Ghanaian actress and television personality, Cecilia Gyase Konamah, known in showbiz as Abena Ghana, has disclosed that her Europe edition of ‘The Journey Show’ is impacting lives.
The new edition, which focused on Ghanaians in Belgium, started airing on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:30 a.m on Adom TV.
The Journey Show throws the spotlight on the stories of people who have had great life experiences worth sharing to motivate others.
Speaking to The Spectator, Abena Ghana said, she has received a lot of feedback within a short time the new edition started airing.
Abena Ghana further noted that these people are either living abroad or in Ghana preparing to relocate abroad.
“They told us the programme has educated, inspired and motivated them to succeed in their journey abroad. Others were of the view that if they had seen this earlier, their situations abroad would have changed for the better.” she added.
The brain behind the programme, Abena Ghana added that they encouraged her to keep sharing such experiences to serve as a guide to people in their journey of life.
The stories in the Europe edition range from how hard it was for them to travel outside the country, how some of them got their passports as citizens in Belgium and the hustle they went through to achieve all they have now.
“Special thanks goes to Adom TV for being with us all these years, also to all my sponsors on the show, Time Herbal Mixture, Medimafo Herbal Hospital, Givers Clean Care, Nyadua Herbal Mixture, Konamah entertainment and CEO Noks Tv Africa in Belgium for Making this season possible,” she added.
Abena Ghana also expressed appreciation to Queenie Shipping, Dennaac travel consult, Anniluv Shapewear, King Solomon Trading, Macdens electrical in Belgium who made this season possible.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme