A man in a viral video administering a substance suspected to be a cigarette to a child has told the Ghana Police Service that the video is a five-year-old video.
According to the Police statement, the suspect admitted to the offence during interrogation and claimed the incident happened five years ago.
The Ghana Police Service made this known in an announcement of the arrest of a man in a viral video giving a cigarette to a toddler.
On November 22, 2025, the Ghana Police, in a statement issued, revealed that the suspect, identified as Samuel Obeng Asare Acheampong, had been arrested.
According to the Police statement, he was arrested through an intelligence-led operation.
Parts of the statement added, “The suspect is in custody, assisting the investigation, and will be put before the court”.
“The Police Service remains committed to ensuring the safety of children and would like to caution the public against acts that expose children to harm, since perpetrators will be pursued and arrested to face the full rigours of the law.”
The Ghana Police Service had earlier launched a manhunt for a man in a viral video who gave a cigarette to a toddler.
In a post on X, the Police Service stated, “ POLICE INVESTIGATE VIRAL VIDEO OF A MAN GIVING A CIGARETTE TO A CHILD.
The Ghana Police Service has commenced an investigation into a viral video where a man is seen administering a substance suspected to be a cigarette to a child”.
Every effort is being made to identify and arrest the suspect involved and to ensure that the child is safe and protected.
We urge members of the public who have any information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the man or the child to report to the nearest Police Station”, the post added.
In the video that has gone viral of a man gave a lit cigarette to a female toddler to smoke.
The circulating video has sparked massive outrage and criticism on the social media page in Ghana.
In the viral video, some men gave the toddler a lit cigarette to smoke, with the young girl crying and also coughing.
The toddler in the video attempted to smoke the cigarette as she was ordered by the men.
The group of men could later be heard laughing when the toddler tried placing the cigarette in her mouth.
One man later took the cigarette back from the toddler.
Many commentators under the post shared by the State News noted that the behaviour of the men could harm the toddler, calling on the Ghana Police Service to intervene.
See the statement below:
