Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has disputed a claim by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that it solely executed a major cybercrime operation in Ghana. In a post on X on October 8, 2026, Mr. George stated that Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies led the exercise with support from the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency and the FBI. He emphasized that the fight against cybercrime is transnational and requires collaboration.
The minister's statement followed an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel on October 8, 2026, that the bureau had dismantled a scam operation in Ghana under its "Operation Blackout" initiative. Mr. Patel said the operation had identified nearly $10 million in losses and 89 victims, with more than 130 individuals arrested or detained. He also mentioned that over 300 devices were seized, and victims who will be repatriated to their home countries.
Mr. George's post on X expressed his expectation that the FBI Director will reflect on the benefits of continued cooperation between the two countries and act accordingly. He described the framing of the FBI's announcement as undermining the potential for future cooperation. The minister's statement highlights the importance of collaboration in the fight against cybercrime.
The Ghana operation forms part of Operation Blackout, a global effort targeting scam compounds involved in fraud against Americans. According to Mr. Patel, the initiative has resulted in roughly $17 billion in fraud-related assets being seized, hundreds of arrests, and the freeing of thousands of trafficked workers. The bureau's separate prevention effort, Operation Level Up, has reportedly contacted more than 10,000 potential victims and prevented hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
The announcement comes amid growing cooperation between Ghanaian and United States authorities over transnational financial and cybercrime. In July 2026, Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was extradited to the United States to face charges over his alleged involvement in a romance-fraud network. The United States Department of Justice said Mr. Kumi, 31, was accused of being part of a network that targeted more than 80 elderly victims in the United States and allegedly defrauded them of more than $8 million.
Mr. Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 and extradited on July 9, 2026. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. United States authorities acknowledged the cooperation of several Ghanaian institutions in securing his arrest and extradition, including the Attorney-General's Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the National Intelligence Bureau, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.
The FBI Director did not disclose the identities of those arrested or detained, the locations of the operations, or the specific Ghanaian institutions involved in the exercise. It is also not yet clear whether any of those arrested will face prosecution in Ghana or extradition proceedings in the United States. The cooperation between Ghanaian and US authorities is expected to continue in the fight against transnational financial and cybercrime.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government disputes the FBI's claim of sole execution of the cybercrime operation.
- The operation resulted in the arrest of over 130 individuals and the seizure of over 300 devices.
- The cooperation between Ghanaian and US authorities is expected to continue in the fight against transnational financial and cybercrime.
