Rolf Olson, the US Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Accra, has praised the John Mahama government for its strong cooperation in combating cybercrime and facilitating extraditions.
According to Rolf Olson, the extradition of nine individuals from Ghana in one year is an extraordinary achievement.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the US Embassy in Accra on Friday, December 12, 2025, the US Chargé d’Affaires said, “Extradition of nine individuals from Ghana in one year is an extraordinary achievement, and the cooperation with the government, obviously with the President, the Attorney General, Interior Minister, has been extraordinary. It’s been a really strong collaboration”.
“We go through a formal legal process to make a request… and then are legally sent to the United States to stand trial. Everyone gets a fair trial. They’re not guilty. They will be firmly innocent until proven guilty,” he explained.
He further added, “These are the kinds of people who, obviously, if proven guilty in court, they should be in prison. They shouldn’t be out being able to take advantage of, particularly older people”.
The US Chargé d’Affaires further revealed that the US remains committed to working with Ghana to fight cybercrime and financial fraud, adding that the US is open to extradition requests from Ghana.
“We are always open to receiving extradition requests. That is absolutely a firm part of any good bilateral relationship,” he noted.
His remarks follow the latest arrest of Abu Trica, a 31-year-old Ghanaian from Swedru, who has been arrested for his alleged involvement in an $8 million romance scam which targeted elderly victims in the United States.
He was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, following an investigation conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.
The US Department of Justice wrote, “According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims. They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretenses.
Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators. The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms. They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties.
The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in the Republic of Ghana and other locations.
Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison”.
It further added, “If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian social media influencer, Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia4Reall, Abiola Kayode, a Nigerian national resident in Ghana, Ghanaian businessman Joseph Badu Boateng, popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, Isaac Oduro Boateng (Kofi Boat), Insuah Ahmed (Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah (Van) are the latest Ghanaians to be extradited to the United States on allegations of fraud.