9 Ghanaians extradited to US this year for cybercrimes – Embassy

The United States Embassy in Accra has revealed that nine Ghanaians implicated in cybercrime and related offences have been extradited to the United States this year, marking a major milestone in bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

The disclosure was made during a roundtable discussion at the US Embassy on Friday, December 12, 2025, where the US Chargé d’Affaires, Rolf Olson, said the suspects face allegations including online impersonation and sophisticated financial fraud schemes that allegedly defrauded victims of millions of dollars.

The engagement was attended by senior US officials, including the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa at the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, William B Stevens.

Mr Olson stressed that extradition does not equate to guilt, emphasising that all accused persons are entitled to full due process under US law and can only be punished if convicted by a court.

“We go through a formal legal process to make a request. Often, someone is first arrested because they are not already in custody, and then they are legally sent to the United States to stand trial. Everyone gets a fair trial. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he explained.

He noted that where guilt is established, the courts could impose prison sentences depending on the severity of the offences proven.

“These are the kinds of people who, if proven guilty, should be in prison. They should not be out taking advantage of others, particularly older people, although anyone can fall victim to this kind of crime,” Mr Olson said.

Commending Ghana’s role, the US diplomat described the cooperation of the John Dramani Mahama administration as exceptional, particularly in the fight against cybercrime.

He described the extradition of nine individuals within a single year as an extraordinary achievement, praising the President, the Attorney General and the Interior Minister for their strong collaboration and commitment to the rule of law.

“Extraditing nine individuals from Ghana in one year is an extraordinary achievement. The cooperation with the government has been exceptional. It has been a very strong partnership,” he said.

Mr Olson reaffirmed the United States’ readiness to continue working with Ghana to combat cybercrime and protect citizens from financial fraud, adding that Washington is also open to receiving extradition requests from Ghana and other countries.

“We are always open to receiving extradition requests. That is a firm part of any good bilateral relationship, and certainly ours,” he stated.

He explained that extradition processes are subject to strict judicial scrutiny, noting that final decisions rest with US judges, who operate independently and have the authority to approve or reject requests.

“There is no case that can be prejudged. Judges are a separate branch of government and decide whether to approve or disapprove a request, but we remain open to that level of cooperation,” he added.

Addressing deportation, Mr Olson said illegal immigration remains a priority issue for the administration of President Donald Trump, resulting in the removal of foreign nationals who have exhausted all legal options in the United States.

He said the US remains committed to enforcing its immigration laws while respecting individual rights and international agreements.

Mr Olson also praised Ghanaian authorities for their cooperation in receiving returning Ghanaian nationals and other West Africans, describing it as yet another example of effective and mutually respectful bilateral engagement.