Mohammed Adams Sukparu Warns of Rising Cyber Fraud as Ghana Records Nearly 4,000 Incidents in Early 2026

Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has sounded an urgent alarm over the escalating threat of cybercrime in Ghana. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month in Accra, Sukparu revealed that the country recorded 3,876 cybersecurity incidents between January and July 2026. Notably, nearly half of these cases—approximately 47%—involved online fraud, reflecting a worrying trend of sophisticated digital exploitation targeting unsuspecting citizens.

To illustrate the real-world impact of these threats, the Deputy Minister shared a personal account involving a constituent who fell victim to a scam despite official intervention. A young man was approached by a fraudster posing as an old classmate living in the United States, who offered a fraudulent travel opportunity in exchange for a GH10,000 visa fee. Despite Sukparu’s direct warnings that the offer was a scam, the young man’s family interpreted his caution as a refusal to help, even labeling him "greedy" and a "selfish politician." The family eventually proceeded with the payment, only to lose the entire amount when the promised opportunity proved to be non-existent.

Sukparu used this incident to highlight the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals who exploit social media and personal connections to conduct targeted attacks. He noted that as Ghana continues to expand its digital financial services, the digital finance ecosystem becomes a primary target for bad actors. The campaign for the awareness month, themed "Securing Ghana’s Digital Finance Ecosystem: Building Trust Through Collaboration and Cyber Resilience," seeks to address these vulnerabilities by fostering a more secure and trustworthy environment for online transactions.

In his concluding remarks, the Deputy Minister called for enhanced collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and the general public to combat the surge in cybercrime. He urged Ghanaians to adopt better "cyber hygiene," including the rigorous verification of all digital requests and the immediate reporting of suspicious activities. By prioritizing digital literacy and collective vigilance, Sukparu emphasized that the nation can build the resilience necessary to protect its citizens from the devastating financial and psychological effects of online fraud.