Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has criticised FBI Director Kash Patel for failing to acknowledge Ghana’s leading role in a recent cybercrime operation, warning that the omission could undermine future international cooperation.
His reaction follows a post by Mr Patel on Thursday announcing arrests and seizures in Ghana under the FBI’s global Operation Blackout, which targets scam centres accused of defrauding victims, including American citizens.
Mr George challenged the presentation of the operation, insisting that Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies led the Cyberhunt operations, with significant support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the FBI.
In a post on social media, the Minister directly addressed Mr Patel, stressing the importance of recognising the contributions of all participating agencies.
“@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 said.
He warned that portraying the FBI as having acted alone could damage the prospects for continued collaboration.
“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,” he added.
Ghana-led operations
Mr George explained that the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), which operates under his Ministry, collaborated with the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service and operatives from the National Security Secretariat to conduct a series of sting operations between September 25 and 28, 2026.
He said the operations dealt a significant blow to cybercriminals and demonstrated the government’s determination to tackle cybercrime.
“The John Dramani Mahama administration is committed to stamping out cybercrime. We are grateful to our international partners, including the UK’s NCA and the FBI,” he stated.
The Minister assured that the CSA would continue working with domestic and international law enforcement agencies to sustain the fight against cybercrime.
FBI reports arrests, seizures and financial losses
In his post, Mr Patel said the latest operation in Ghana had identified nearly US$10 million in losses and 89 victims.
He reported that more than 130 individuals had been arrested or detained, while over 300 devices had been seized. Some of those detained, he added, were victims who would be repatriated to their home countries, with investigations still ongoing.
Mr Patel also said the broader Operation Blackout had resulted in approximately US$17 billion in seizures, hundreds of arrests of alleged scammers and the liberation of thousands of trafficked workers.
According to the FBI Director, authorities had also warned more than 10,000 Americans before they lost money, preventing an estimated US$670 million in potential losses.
