The Jatikay Centre has warned that arrests alone will not end cyber fraud in Ghana unless authorities also address the social acceptance of unexplained wealth and lavish lifestyles associated with suspected fraudsters.
The Centre’s comments follow the FBI’s announcement on October 8, 2026, that its Ghana operation had identified 89 victims, with nearly US$10 million in losses, and led to more than 130 arrests or detentions and the seizure of over 300 electronic devices.
The FBI, however, cautioned that those arrested or detained should not all be viewed as suspected fraudsters, as some were potential victims expected to be repatriated to their home countries.
In a statement, Adib Saani of the Centre commended Ghanaian security agencies and their international partners, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the UK’s National Crime Agency, for their recent crackdown on suspected cyber-fraud networks.
“We cannot arrest our way out of a culture that society increasingly tolerates,” the statement said.
The Jatikay Centre said the fight against cyber fraud must include stronger financial investigations, asset recovery, prosecution and public education.
READ: Minority demands removal of Kofi Adams, GTA boss over World Cup visa ‘scandal’
It also called for a sustained national campaign to “de-glamorise unexplained wealth and make cyber fraud socially unacceptable again,” citing peer influence, unemployment pressures and the get-rich-quick culture as factors linked to fraud in Ghana and West Africa.
