The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in Ghana has successfully dismantled a network of organised counterfeit currency syndicates operating across the Greater Accra Region. In a six-week intelligence-led operation conducted between June 12 and July 24, 2026, the NSCS arrested 16 suspects and disrupted four production hubs. The operation uncovered sophisticated printing and distribution networks allegedly producing and circulating large quantities of fake local and foreign currencies.
The NSCS seized a substantial amount of counterfeit currency, including $543,000, GH¢196,600, and CFA60,000 in notes ready for circulation. Additionally, counterfeit coupons valued at $5,293,500, GH¢19,553,700, and CFA623,550,000 that were yet to be processed and printed were also confiscated. The security teams impounded four counterfeit currency printing machines, six vehicles, and two motorcycles during coordinated raids and interception operations carried out at six locations in Greater Accra and surrounding districts.
The operations disrupted a network involving technical printing operators, cross-border facilitators, and couriers, with some suspects allegedly using religious facilities, residential properties, and commercial premises as production and storage sites. The NSCS statement revealed that the first operation at Amuzu, a suburb of Kasoa, on June 12, 2026, resulted in the arrest of one Nana Nyarko Derrick Dapaah. A currency printing machine, fake gold bars, five mobile phones, counterfeit American dollars, Ghana cedis, and CFA francs were recovered from a residential compound allegedly operating under the cover of a traditional spiritual centre.
Further operations led to the arrest of seven suspects, comprising three Ghanaians and four foreign nationals, at Adjiringanor on June 19. Three unregistered vehicles, namely a Honda CR-V, Toyota Highlander, and Toyota Corolla, and $65,900 in counterfeit notes were seized. At Lashibi and Klagon on June 29, five suspects were arrested following searches of an office and a religious facility. A printing machine, two vehicles, and millions of dollars, cedis, and CFA francs in counterfeit coupons were also recovered.
The distribution network was also hit with an interception near the Lakeside Shell Filling Station on July 9, leading to the arrest of one Issah Ibrahim, while a second suspect, Adamu Haruna, remains at large. Five boxes containing counterfeit GH¢200 notes with an estimated face value of GH¢12.42 million, together with two registered motorcycles, were seized during that operation. At Nii Boi Town on July 21, one Solomon Acheampong was arrested, while two alleged accomplices escaped.
A suspect, Amankwah Bismark, described by investigators as a key figure, remains at large. The final operation at Achimota and Amasaman on July 24 led to the arrest of one Osman Iddrisu and the seizure of two printing machines. The NSCS stated that all 16 arrested suspects had been remanded into state custody, with case dockets submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.
Prosecution proceedings are ongoing at the Accra High Court, while intelligence teams continue efforts to locate suspects still at large. The NSCS urged financial institutions, property owners, and administrators of religious facilities to exercise vigilance and report suspicious high-volume printing activities or unusual foreign currency transactions to security agencies.
Key points
- 16 suspects were arrested and four production hubs were dismantled in a six-week operation.
- The seized counterfeit currency and coupons had an estimated face value of millions of dollars, cedis, and CFA francs.
- The NSCS urged the public to report suspicious activities to prevent further counterfeit currency circulation.
