To suggest FBI acted solely to execute Cyberhunt operations in Ghana will hurt future collaboration — Sam George warns

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George has challenged the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over its account of a major cybercrime operation in Ghana, insisting that Ghanaian security agencies led the exercise with support from British and American counterparts.

In a post on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Mr George said the operation, known as Cyberhunt, was driven by Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies, with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) providing primary support alongside the FBI.

He cautioned that presenting the operation as an exclusively American effort could undermine future cooperation between Ghana and the United States in tackling transnational cybercrime.

"@FBIDirectorKash, as Ghana's Minister responsible for Cybersecurity, I believe the fight against cybercrime is transnational and requires collaboration. Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence led the Cyberhunt operations, with primary support from the UK @NCA_UK and the @FBI you lead," he wrote.

"To suggest the @FBI acted solely to execute this operation in your tweet undermines the potential for future collaboration. I expect that you will reflect on the benefits of our continued cooperation and act accordingly. For God and Country," he added.

His comments followed an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, October 8, 2026, that the bureau had dismantled a scam operation in Ghana under its global anti-fraud initiative, Operation Blackout.

Mr Patel said the operation had uncovered nearly US$10 million in losses involving 89 victims. More than 130 people had been arrested or detained, including victims expected to be repatriated to their home countries, while over 300 electronic devices were seized.

"These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives – and this FBI is crushing them in every corner of the world. More to come," Mr Patel said.

The FBI announcement did not identify the individuals arrested or detained, specify the locations of the operations or name the Ghanaian agencies involved. Details regarding possible prosecutions in Ghana or extradition proceedings to the United States also remain unclear.

FBI's global anti-fraud campaign

Operation Blackout is part of the FBI’s broader effort to dismantle scam compounds allegedly involved in fraud targeting Americans. Mr Patel has previously said the initiative has led to the seizure of approximately US$17 billion in fraud-related assets, hundreds of arrests and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.

The campaign also includes efforts to alert potential victims before they lose money. Through a separate initiative, Operation Level Up, the FBI has reportedly contacted more than 10,000 people considered potential victims and prevented losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to Mr Patel, the compounds targeted by the operations are often large, fortified facilities where trafficked workers are allegedly forced to conduct online scams against people in other countries.

He has also indicated that criminal networks are increasingly shifting operations towards Africa as law enforcement agencies intensify pressure on similar activities in Southeast Asia and other regions.

Ghana-US cooperation on cybercrime

The disagreement over the public description of the Cyberhunt operation comes amid ongoing collaboration between Ghanaian and American authorities in tackling transnational fraud and cybercrime.

In July 2026, Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was extradited to the United States to face charges over his alleged involvement in a romance-fraud network.

The United States Department of Justice accused Mr Kumi, 31, of participating in a network that allegedly defrauded more than 80 elderly victims in the United States of over US$8 million.

He was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 and extradited on July 9, 2026. The charges against him include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

US authorities acknowledged the assistance of several Ghanaian institutions in the arrest and extradition process, including the Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the National Intelligence Bureau and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.

Mr George’s intervention underscores the importance of recognising the respective contributions of partner agencies in joint investigations, particularly as Ghana and international law enforcement bodies continue efforts to combat cybercrime and financial fraud across borders.