The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has rejected any suggestion that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) independently conceived, commanded, or executed the recent cybercrime crackdown in Ghana, insisting that the operation was planned and led by Ghanaian authorities. This response follows a post by the FBI Director regarding "Operation Blackout," which reported arrests and seizures in Ghana. The CSA stated that the Ghana operation, known as "Operation Cyber Hunt," was led and coordinated by the Authority with support from Ghanaian security agencies and international partners. The operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in parts of the Greater Accra Region, leading to the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 individuals suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud. Items seized included mobile phones, laptops, internet devices, and vehicles. The CSA acknowledged intelligence contributions from the FBI and the UK's National Crime Agency but stressed that Ghana's sovereignty means foreign agencies cannot independently exercise police powers within the country. Investigations into the suspected cybercrime centres and seized digital devices are ongoing.
Update (11:20 GMT): Citi Newsroom also reported on this story under the headline "CSA rejects FBI’s account of Ghana’s Operation Cyber Hunt". Read the Citi Newsroom report.
Update (12:40 GMT): Graphic Online also reported on this story under the headline "Cyber Security Authority: Ghana led Operation Blackout, not FBI". Read the Graphic Online report.