Massive Counterfeiting Ring Uncovered in Greater Accra Raises Alarms Over Insider Involvement
A sophisticated counterfeiting operation was discovered in Sarpeiman, a suburb in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. The February bust unveiled not just stacks of counterfeit currency but also authentic Bank of Ghana (BoG) cash boxes, leading to concerns about possible insider involvement within the country’s top financial institutions.
The criminal setup, disguised as a battery-charging shop, was within an unassuming, seemingly abandoned structure, which was hiding one of the most elaborate counterfeiting schemes Ghana has encountered in recent years.
The local operator, known as the “Battery Doctor”, is an elderly man believed to have either unknowingly or perhaps knowingly sheltered the illegal activities behind the scenes. Whether he was complicit or merely a decoy remains a critical focus of ongoing investigations.
In a press briefing and inspection of the scene, Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, confirmed that the cash boxes recovered on the premises were genuine property of the Bank of Ghana.
Authorities have verified that these boxes are genuine,” said Jakpa. “This discovery suggests a major breach of financial regulatory controls and potentially serious insider involvement.”
The search of the compound led to the discovery of ten 40-foot containers filled with counterfeit Ghana cedi notes, US dollars, fake gold bars, and gold-plated metals—pointing to an extensive and well-funded criminal enterprise with international dimensions.
Jakpa also noted that two additional containers were mysteriously removed just hours before the raid, raising strong suspicions that insiders may have tipped off members of the syndicate, allowing them to escape with critical evidence.
Authorities have identified a man known as “Alhaji” as the prime suspect and mastermind behind the operation. Evidence recovered at the scene directly implicates him as the central figure in the counterfeiting ring.
Alhaji is a central figure in this syndicate, and efforts are underway to bring him to justice,” Jakpa affirmed.
Sources close to the investigation suggest that Alhaji may have connections to influential networks and could be part of a broader transnational criminal group. His current whereabouts remain unknown, and a nationwide manhunt is underway.