The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mr Samuel Nartey George, has pushed back on claims by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that it solely executed a major cybercrime operation in Ghana, stating that Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies led the exercise with support from the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency and the FBI.
In a post on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Mr George said the fight against cybercrime is transnational and requires collaboration, and he described the framing of the FBI's announcement as undermining the potential for future cooperation between the two countries.
@FBIDirectorKash, as Ghana's Minister responsible for Cybersecurity, I believe the fight against cybercrime is transnational and requires collaboration. Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence led the Cyberhunt operations, with primary support from the UK @NCA_UK and the @FBI you lead. To suggest the @FBI acted solely to execute this operation in your tweet undermines the potential for future collaboration. I expect that you will reflect on the benefits of our continued cooperation and act accordingly. For God and Country. 🦁🇬🇭
— Sam 'Dzata' George 🦁🇬🇭 (@samgeorgegh) October 8, 2026
"@FBIDirectorKash, as Ghana's Minister responsible for Cybersecurity, I believe the fight against cybercrime is transnational and requires collaboration. Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence led the Cyberhunt operations, with primary support from the UK @NCA_UK and the @FBI you lead," he wrote.
"To suggest the @FBI acted solely to execute this operation in your tweet undermines the potential for future collaboration. I expect that you will reflect on the benefits of our continued cooperation and act accordingly. For God and Country," he added.
The minister's statement followed an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, 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 US$10 million in losses and 89 victims, with more than 130 individuals arrested or detained, including victims who will be repatriated to their home countries, while over 300 devices were seized.
"These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives – and this FBI is crushing them in every corner of the world. More to come," Mr Patel said.
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 Ghana operation forms part of Operation Blackout, which the FBI describes as a global effort targeting scam compounds involved in fraud against Americans. Mr Patel has previously said the initiative has resulted in roughly US$17 billion in fraud-related assets being seized, hundreds of arrests, the freeing of thousands of trafficked workers and efforts to warn potential victims before they lose money.
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. Mr Patel has described scam compounds targeted by the operation as large, fortified facilities where trafficked workers are allegedly forced to conduct fraud against victims abroad, and has said criminal networks are increasingly moving their operations towards Africa as law enforcement pressure increases in Southeast Asia and other regions.
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 US$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.
