Over 300 arrested for mobile money fraud in nationwide crackdown – Sam George

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has revealed that more than 300 individuals have been arrested so far this year for their involvement in mobile money fraud, as part of a sustained national campaign to sanitise Ghana’s digital and financial space.

Speaking in an interview that has gained wide circulation on social media, the Minister said the arrests were the result of coordinated operations spearheaded by the Cyber Security Authority, working closely with the Police Criminal Investigations Department and other security agencies.

He emphasised that the crackdown is driven by Ghana’s own resolve to protect its citizens and international image, and not merely in response to requests from foreign law enforcement agencies such as the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“This year alone, in collaboration with the Police CID, we have arrested over 300 people involved in mobile money fraud,” Mr George stated.

The Minister explained that Ghana often suffers reputational damage from cyber and mobile money crimes, even in cases where the perpetrators are foreign nationals operating within the country. 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.

“About three weeks ago, we picked up an individual involved in an elderly romance scam. It was initially flagged as a Ghanaian operation, but after surveillance and arrest, it turned out the person was a Nigerian operating from Ghana. Unfortunately, Ghana still gets blamed for these crimes,” he said.

Mr George stressed that the ongoing operations are carefully targeted at criminal networks and not at individuals engaged in legitimate digital activities or content creation. He noted that cybercrime has negatively affected Ghana’s ability to secure monetisation and partnerships with major global digital platforms and payment service providers.

“We are not going after people doing legitimate work. We are going after those who are damaging our image,” he clarified.

Beyond mobile money fraud, the Minister disclosed that some operations have uncovered more complex and disturbing criminal activities, including human trafficking. He revealed that in one major operation, security agencies rescued hundreds of victims who had been trafficked into Ghana under false pretences and forced to engage in cybercrime.

“In one single bust, we rescued 425 people who had been trafficked into Ghana by Chinese and Nigerian operators. They were locked up in a house in Dodowa and forced to engage in cybercrime against their will,” he disclosed.

According to the Minister, arrests linked to mobile money fraud have been carried out across various parts of the country, including coastal and border communities. He mentioned a recent operation in the Volta Region, where suspects involved in high-level impersonation scams were apprehended.

“This year alone, operations extended as far as Anloga, where we arrested seven people and their ringleader who were impersonating ministers and Members of Parliament,” he said.

Mr George dismissed claims that the government is only interested in high-profile cybercrime cases involving international agencies, insisting that many successful operations are conducted discreetly.

“It’s not only about working with the FBI. We do our work very quietly, but very efficiently,” he noted.

He praised the Cyber Security Authority for its leadership and expressed appreciation to partner institutions, including the Police CID, National Investigations Bureau (NIB), Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the National Signals Bureau, for their collaboration.

The Minister said the intensified crackdown is crucial to restoring confidence in Ghana’s digital ecosystem, safeguarding citizens from fraud and strengthening the country’s standing in engagements with global technology and financial institutions.