The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, has weighed in on the brouhaha following the recent arrest of some fraudsters in Ghana by the US Authorities.
According to Yayra Koku, Cyberfraud, also known as digital fraud or a scam, is a serious crime.
He stressed that the use of digital technology to deceive people for financial gain is never acceptable.
The NIA CEO further cautioned critics who are against the government going after fraudsters, arguing that there are no jobs.
Yayra Koku stressed that one day, a group will also wake up calling for armed robbers not to be arrested because there are no jobs.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Cyberfraud, also known as digital fraud or a scam, is a serious crime. The use of digital technology to deceive people for financial gain is never acceptable.
Otherwise, one day we will wake up to find a group calling for armed robbers not to be arrested because there are no jobs. We cannot be against internal Momo fraud and support cyberfraud against outsiders.
Let us not forget that we live in a globalised world, and Ghana cannot exist in isolation”.
Also, Sam Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has replied to critics accusing him of going after fraud boys at the expense of the job he was tasked to do in government.
According to Sam George, Ghana will continue to be blacklisted as long as fraud persists.
He highlighted that Ghanaians want PayPal, also want TikTok, and Meta to monetise, but that will not happen when fraud continues to thrive in Ghana.
Sam George further revealed that the persistent fraud was the key reason PayPal exited Ghana several years ago.
Speaking to the media at the Ningo-Prampram Education Directorate during the Teachers Awards and Retirees Send-Off, Sam George stated, “I have seen a number of comments on social media saying, this is not what we voted for you for. You’re going after the fraud boys, leave them alone. You’re not creating jobs”.
“Yet those same people are asking me to get PayPal to monetise, get TikTok to monetise, and get Meta to monetise. Well, Ghana will continue to be blacklisted as long as fraud persists,” he said.
Sam George further revealed that the persistent fraud was the key reason PayPal exited Ghana several years ago.
He added, “The reason PayPal left Ghana is because of fraud. When a few people deprive the majority who are doing legitimate work on social media and creating content, it affects everyone. The reason you cannot monetise and get value for your craft is that some individuals have chosen to give Ghana a bad name. We will take action”.
According to Sam George, the FBI did not make a request today, adding that the FBI request was pending before he became minister.
He alleged that in the past government, certain individuals leaked vital information to cybercrime targets.
Sam George continued, “Let this be clear, this action on clamping down on cyber fraud didn’t start today, the FBI did not make a request today, it was pending before I became minister. But in the past, people were leaking information to the targets and helping them evade arrest. I made a commitment when I became a minister that anything we would do to clean up Ghana internationally, we will, as we clamp down on cybercrime, make our case stronger as we talk to the platforms to monetise. The accusation that there are no jobs, then should we say we should not arrest armed robbers aswell, everybody will have a reason for crime.
“As we intensify the fight against cybercrime, it helps us present Ghana as a peaceful and safe destination where illicit flows will not pass. That is what gives platforms like TikTok and Meta the confidence to engage with us on monetisation,” he added.
See the post below:
Cyberfraud, also known as digital fraud or a scam, is a serious crime. The use of digital technology to deceive people for financial gain is never acceptable.
— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) December 22, 2025
Otherwise, one day we will wake up to find a group calling for armed robbers not to be arrested because there are no… pic.twitter.com/899NKbg1i5