Ghana has strengthened its fight against transnational organised crime through closer collaboration with INTERPOL and international law-enforcement agencies, according to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor.
COP Donkor said Ghana’s participation in INTERPOL-coordinated international police operations had produced significant results, including the arrest of suspects, recovery of stolen assets, rescue of victims and disruption of criminal networks operating across national borders.
She made the remarks in a statement marking the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, observed on Monday, September 7, 2026.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme, “Protecting Against Vulnerability; Building Trust and Legitimacy in Policing.”
Ghana intensifies international police cooperation
COP Donkor noted that the nature of criminal activity has changed significantly, with criminals increasingly using international networks and technology to operate across borders.
She said this development has made international police cooperation, intelligence sharing and joint investigations critical to combating modern crime.
Ghana has been a member of INTERPOL since 1958, with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Accra serving as a key channel for international law-enforcement cooperation.
Through the global INTERPOL network, Ghanaian investigators are able to exchange information and work with police agencies in other countries to track suspects, investigate crimes and recover criminal assets.
Operation Contender 3.0 targets romance scams and sextortion
COP Donkor cited Ghana’s participation in Operation Contender 3.0, an INTERPOL-led operation targeting romance scams and sextortion across Africa.
The operation was conducted simultaneously in 14 African countries in August 2025 and resulted in the arrest of 68 suspects, the seizure of 835 electronic devices and the identification of 108 victims.
Investigators established that victims suffered financial losses of approximately US$450,000, with about US$70,000 recovered.
COP Donkor said the figures represented real victims whose trust had been exploited through fake identities, stolen photographs, fraudulent relationships and threats of exposure.
INTERPOL cybercrime operation uncovers ransomware attack
The CID Director-General also highlighted Operation Sentinel, an INTERPOL-coordinated cybercrime operation carried out across 19 African countries between October and November 2025.
The operation helped investigators identify the ransomware strain used in an attack against a Ghanaian institution, resulting in the theft of more than US$120,000.
According to COP Donkor, investigators recovered nearly 30 terabytes of data and arrested the suspected perpetrators.
She stressed that the achievements should not be viewed merely as statistics, arguing that the operations helped protect businesses, recover stolen funds, secure digital infrastructure and disrupt organised criminal networks.
Ghanaian children rescued through international cooperation
COP Donkor also disclosed that international cooperation had played a major role in protecting vulnerable children.
In January 2026, collaboration between Ghanaian and Australian law-enforcement authorities resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the rescue of four Ghanaian children aged between six and 13 in the Ashanti and Bono Regions.
She described the rescue of the children as an important demonstration of the value of international police cooperation.
According to the CID boss, protecting vulnerable people must remain at the centre of efforts to combat human trafficking, child exploitation and other forms of transnational organised crime.
Ghana Police targets cross-border criminal networks
COP Donkor said the same approach was required in the fight against other international crimes, including vehicle-related crimes and firearms smuggling.
She noted that criminal networks were becoming increasingly sophisticated and international, requiring law-enforcement agencies to strengthen cooperation across borders.
As a member of the INTERPOL Africa Committee, COP Donkor said she was committed to promoting stronger partnerships between Ghana, African countries and international law-enforcement agencies.
She stressed that criminals should not be allowed to exploit national borders to evade justice.
Information sharing critical to fighting crime
COP Donkor said effective international police cooperation goes beyond simply exchanging information.
She explained that when information is properly analysed, it becomes intelligence, which can then support law-enforcement action, protect victims and help recover stolen money and assets.
She said stronger collaboration also gives investigators a greater opportunity to locate victims, track fugitives and disrupt criminal operations.
The Ghana Police Service, through the CID and INTERPOL NCB Accra, remains committed to working with INTERPOL, African partners and law-enforcement agencies around the world to combat cybercrime, human trafficking, financial fraud, organised crime and other cross-border criminal activities.
COP Donkor said professional, accountable and trusted policing would ultimately help create safer communities and stronger public confidence in law enforcement.
Source: newsthemegh.com