Security agencies have arrested more than 300 individuals this year in a nationwide crackdown on mobile money fraud, as the government intensifies efforts to protect Ghana’s digital financial ecosystem and restore confidence in the country’s online space.
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, disclosed the figures during a recent interview, explaining that the arrests were carried out through coordinated operations led by the Cyber Security Authority, in collaboration with the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and other security agencies.
According to the Minister, the ongoing enforcement drive is part of a deliberate national strategy to clamp down on cybercrime and safeguard Ghana’s reputation, rather than a response to pressure from foreign law-enforcement agencies.
“We’ve arrested this year alone, we’ve arrested over 300 people in collaboration with the Police CID who have been involved in mobile money fraud,” Mr George said.
Protecting Ghana’s Reputation
Mr George noted that Ghana often suffers reputational damage when cyber and mobile money fraud cases are traced to activities within its borders, even when the perpetrators are foreign nationals operating locally.
He cited a recent case in which a suspect initially believed to be Ghanaian was later identified as a Nigerian national following surveillance and investigations.
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“In that case, it was flagged internationally as a Ghanaian operation, but when we arrested the suspect, it turned out the individual was not Ghanaian. Still, Ghana gets flagged,” he explained.
He stressed that such incidents undermine the country’s standing with global digital platforms, payment service providers and international partners.
Legitimate Digital Work Not Targeted
The Minister rejected claims that the crackdown is aimed at stifling digital creativity or innovation, insisting that enforcement efforts are focused strictly on criminal networks.
“We’re not going after people doing legitimate digital work. We’re going after people who are giving Ghana a bad image and hurting opportunities for others,” he said.
According to him, cybercrime has had a direct impact on Ghana’s ability to secure monetisation opportunities and smooth access to global digital and financial platforms.
Human Trafficking Links Uncovered
Beyond mobile money fraud, Mr George revealed that some operations have exposed more complex criminal activity, including human trafficking.
In one major operation, security agencies rescued 425 victims who had been trafficked into Ghana under false pretences and forced to engage in cybercrime.
“They were brought into Ghana by foreign operators, locked up and made to carry out cybercrime against their will,” he disclosed.
Nationwide Operations
The Minister said arrests linked to mobile money fraud have been made across various parts of the country, including coastal and border communities.
He cited a recent operation in the Volta Region that led to the arrest of suspects involved in high-level impersonation scams targeting public officials, including Ministers and Members of Parliament.
Mr George emphasised that while some operations involve cooperation with international partners, many enforcement actions are carried out quietly and independently by Ghanaian authorities.
Commendation for Security Agencies
He commended the Cyber Security Authority for its leadership in coordinating the operations and praised partner institutions, including the Police CID, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOB) and the Signals Bureau.
According to the Minister, the sustained crackdown is essential to protecting citizens from fraud, restoring trust in mobile money systems and strengthening Ghana’s position in the global digital economy.
