President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to cybercriminals, declaring that offenders caught in Ghana will face extradition abroad and prosecution under international law.
Speaking in Accra on Wednesday at the launch of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Mahama said crimes such as romance scams and mobile money fraud have become increasingly sophisticated, endangering jobs, the economy, and national security. He noted that some schemes involved insiders in banks and financial institutions who were punished once discovered.
“Anybody involved in romance scams, whether you are a foreigner or you are a Ghanaian citizen, we will hand you over to be tried and punished accordingly,” the President stated.
His remarks came in the wake of an INTERPOL-led operation that dismantled cybercrime rings across Africa. The sweep, codenamed Operation Contender 3.0, took place from July 28 to August 11, 2025, leading to 260 arrests in 14 countries. Ghana’s participation resulted in 68 arrests and the seizure of 835 items including SIM cards, forged documents, and USB drives. Some suspects arrested earlier in the year have already been extradited to the United States.
Investigators said 108 victims in Ghana suffered financial losses of about $450,000, though $70,000 has since been recovered. Globally, the crackdown uncovered scams that caused $2.8 million in losses to 1,463 victims, dismantling 81 digital networks.
The operation revealed how scammers created fake social media and dating profiles using stolen images, tricking victims with false courier or customs demands. Sextortion cases also surfaced, where criminals secretly recorded explicit video chats and then used them for blackmail.
Mahama cautioned Ghanaians to stay vigilant against everyday fraud attempts. He pointed to scams in which callers impersonate bankers or telecom officials. “Your bank will never call you, your telecom provider will never call you and ask for your personal details,” he said.
He also unveiled new measures to reinforce Ghana’s cyber defences. These include the creation of a Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCCC) to coordinate security and intelligence work under the Cyber Security Authority, and the ratification this month of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime, alongside commitments under the Malabo and Budapest Conventions.
The President linked these efforts to broader government programmes under the Reset Ghana Agenda, citing the One Million Coders Programme, the Digital Jobs Initiative, and a $50 million FinTech Growth Fund. According to him, these initiatives will equip young people with skills for the digital economy while reducing vulnerability to cyber threats.
Mahama stressed that citizens remain the frontline against online crime. “A simple click can have consequences,” he said, urging the public to treat online vigilance with the same seriousness as everyday caution.
