Ghana Vows to Prosecute Romance Scammers Amid Cybercrime Crackdown

Ghana’s President Mahama vowed to prosecute romance scammers and cybercriminals, following a crackdown that arrested over 1,200 people and recovered $100 million. The new Joint Cyber Security Committee will coordinate national and international efforts to fight rising cybercrime.

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling cybercrime, particularly targeting romance scammers, and announced that perpetrators will face prosecution abroad if necessary. Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC) in Accra on October 1, he emphasized that the country will not serve as a refuge for criminals exploiting online platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims. “Anybody involved in romance scams, whether a foreigner or a Ghanaian citizen, will be handed over to face justice,” Mahama stated.

The announcement follows a major crackdown on cybercrime across Africa, where more than 1,200 individuals were arrested and approximately $100 million recovered. Many of those arrested were implicated in online extortion schemes and fake romantic promises designed to exploit victims emotionally and financially.

Interpol reports that cybercrime now accounts for over 30% of reported crimes in West and East Africa, highlighting the growing threat of digital fraud in the region. The recent arrests were part of a coordinated operation involving at least 18 African countries in collaboration with Interpol, which identified around 88,000 victims of various online scams between June and August 2025.

President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s vulnerability, noting that the country has been among the hardest hit by romance scams. He stressed the importance of proactive measures and international cooperation, stating, “A hacker in one country can breach systems halfway across the world within seconds. That is why Ghana cannot act alone. We must collaborate with the rest of the world to effectively combat these crimes.”

The Joint Cyber Security Committee, inaugurated by Mahama, is tasked with ensuring coordination across government agencies and developing strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats. The committee is also expected to strengthen Ghana’s national defense architecture against cybercriminal activities.

Earlier in September, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey, reported that the country lost 15 million Ghanaian cedis (around $1.2 million) to cybercrime in just the first six months of 2025, underscoring the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures. The government remains optimistic that the new initiatives and cross-border collaboration will help reduce the impact of cybercrime and protect both citizens and businesses from financial and emotional harm.