Ghana’s ability to secure monetisation from major global digital platforms will remain out of reach for as long as cyber fraud is allowed to flourish, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has said.
Addressing journalists at the Ningo-Prampram Education Directorate during the Teachers Awards and Retirees Send-Off ceremony, the minister linked the country’s monetisation struggles directly to its persistent fraud problem, arguing that platforms will not commit financially to markets perceived as high risk.
He pushed back against criticism from sections of the public who oppose the government’s crackdown on online fraud while simultaneously demanding economic opportunities from digital platforms.
“I have seen a number of comments on social media saying, this is not what we voted for you for. You’re going after the fraud boys, leave them alone. You’re not creating jobs.
“Yet those same people are asking me to get PayPal to monetise, get TikTok to monetise, and get Meta to monetise. Well, Ghana will continue to be blacklisted as long as fraud persists,” he said.
Mr George pointed to PayPal’s exit from Ghana as a cautionary example, describing it as a direct consequence of unchecked cybercrime with lasting implications for the digital economy.
He maintained that the ministry would not ease its enforcement efforts, noting that the activities of a small group of fraudsters have undermined opportunities for thousands of Ghanaians earning legitimate incomes online, particularly content creators.
“The reason PayPal left Ghana is because of fraud. When a few people deprive the majority who are doing legitimate work on social media and creating content, it affects everyone. The reason you cannot monetise and get value for your craft is because some individuals have chosen to give Ghana a bad name. We will take action,” he stated.
According to the minister, sustained action against cybercrime is not only a matter of law enforcement but a strategic necessity for restoring confidence in Ghana’s digital space.
“As we intensify the fight against cybercrime, it helps us present Ghana as a peaceful and safe destination where illicit flows will not pass. That is what gives platforms like TikTok and Meta the confidence to engage with us on monetisation,” Sam George stressed.
Watch what he said below.
@gharticles People Were Leaking Information To Cybercrime Targets In The Past – Hon Sam George Reveals Why There Was A Delay In Arresting Suspects In The Past Years ___ #gharticles ♬ original sound – Gh Articles 🇬🇭
