Sam Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has revealed that in the past government, certain individuals leaked vital information to cybercrime targets.
According to Sam George, the FBI did not make a request today, adding that the FBI request was pending before he became minister.
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 youfor. 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”.
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 cyber crime, 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.
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.
Also, 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.
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.
Watch the video below:
@gharticles People Were Leaking Information To Cybercrime Targets In The Past – Hon Sam George Reveals Why There Was A Delay In Arresting Suspects In The Past Years ___ #gharticles ♬ original sound – Gh Articles 🇬🇭