THE CHANGING FACE OF FINANCIAL CRIME The next generation of financial crime in Africa may not begin with a masked robber entering a bank. It may begin with a WhatsApp message, a fraudulent investment application, a cloned voice or a mobile-money transfer sent to an account controlled from another country. Between December 2025 and January 2026, INTERPOL’s Operation Red Card 2.0 revealed the scale of this changing threat. Conducted across 16 African countries, the operation resulted in 651 arrests and uncovered online scams linked to more than US$45 million in losses. Authorities seized 2,341 devices and disrupted 1,442 malicious internet addresses, domains and servers connected to mobile-money fraud, fraudulent loan applications and high-yield investment schemes This was not simply the work of isolated scammers. It reflected organised criminal networks using digital infrastructure and multiple jurisdictions to reach victims and move illicit funds. As financial crime becomes faster, smarter and increasingly borderless, are Africa’s financial defences changing quickly enough to confront it? Traditional crimes such as fraud, money laundering and identity theft have not disappeared. What has changed is the power of technology to make these crimes faster, harder to detect and easier to carry out across borders.Banking A single criminal operation can now combine several methods. Fraudsters may use stolen personal information to create fake identities, impersonate a trusted person through an AI-generated voice and persuade victims to transfer money through mobile-money or digital-payment platforms. The funds can then be moved through multiple accounts, converted into cryptocurrency and transferred across jurisdictions within minutes. Business email compromise provides another example.Corporate & Financial Crime Criminals may gain access to a company’s email system, impersonate a senior executive or supplier and redirect legitimate payments into accounts they control. Fraudulent digital lending and investment applications can similarly appear credible while collecting personal data or channelling victims’ money into criminal networks. Legitimate businesses may also be misused to disguise illicit transactions through trade, false invoices or apparently genuine commercial payments. These activities can involve several platforms and countries, making investigations more difficult. What is new is not always the crime itself, but the speed reach and technological sophistication with which it can now be committed.News Africa’s digital success has created new vulnerabilities Africa’s digital financial transformation is a major success story. Mobile money, digital banking, fintech platforms, online lending and cross-border payments have brought millions of people into the formal financial system. Virtual assets also enable investment and transfers. The problem is not innovation itself, but the failure of safeguards to keep pace. Criminals can exploit weak customer verification, stolen SIM cards, compromised accounts, poor data protection and uneven supervision of fintech operators.Investing Africa’s financial inclusion gains must ,therefore, be protected with stronger identity checks, supervision, data security and faster fraud detection. Financial inclusion cannot be sustainable if the people entering the system do not trust that their money and identities are safe. Criminal networks moving faster Financial crime is increasingly cross-border, while regulation and enforcement remain largely national. A victim may be in Ghana, the fraudulent platform hosted elsewhere, the receiving account opened in another country and the proceeds converted into virtual assets within minutes.Crime & Justice INTERPOL’s 2025 Operation Red Card exposed this gap. In Nigeria, police arrested 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals, in connection with multilingual online investment and casino scams. The proceeds were allegedly converted into digital assets to disguise their movement. The case demonstrates that financial criminals are internationally organised. How prepared Is Africa? Africa is not starting from zero. Many countries have established financial intelligence units, strengthened anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and introduced transaction-monitoring systems.Finance Digital identity and customer-verification initiatives are also improving, while regulators are paying greater attention to fintech companies and virtual assets. Joint operations involving INTERPOL, AFRIPOL and national authorities demonstrate that African institutions can respond effectively when intelligence, technology and coordination come together. Cooperation among banks, telecom companies and law-enforcement agencies is also growing. However, preparedness remains uneven across the continent. Existing laws are often weakly enforced, while investigative and digital-forensic capacity remains limited. Information exchange can be slow, and supervision is frequently fragmented across banks, fintech companies and telecom operators. Beneficial-ownership information may be incomplete or difficult to access, making it harder to identify those controlling criminal networks. Low prosecution and conviction rates, shortages of trained compliance and cybersecurity professionals, and inadequate public awareness create further vulnerabilities. The core problem is, therefore, not always the absence of laws.Corporate & Financial Crime It is the persistent gap between what those laws require and what institutions can enforce in practice. Africa’s response must become more preventive, coordinated and technologically capable. First, institutions must shift from reactive enforcement to intelligence-led prevention. Suspicious transaction reports should do more than satisfy compliance requirements. They must help financial intelligence units identify patterns, connect seemingly unrelated transactions and disrupt criminal networks before losses multiply. Second, cooperation must move faster than the criminals. Banks, fintech companies, telecom operators, cybersecurity agencies, financial intelligence units and law-enforcement bodies need secure mechanisms for sharing information quickly. Regional cooperation must also progress beyond periodic meetings towards real-time operational collaboration, particularly when funds move across several jurisdictions.Banking Third, Africa must invest in both people and technology. Regulators, compliance professionals and investigators require expertise in blockchain analysis, digital forensics, artificial intelligence, cyber investigations and cross-border payment tracing. Criminal networks should not maintain a permanent technological advantage over those pursuing them. Fourth, customers must be treated as part of the defence system. Public education should be continuous, practical and delivered through the channels people use daily. Customers must learn to recognise impersonation, phishing links, fraudulent investment offers, fake digital lenders and requests for mobile-money credentials. Finally, financial institutions must strengthen internal accountability. Insider involvement, weak controls and poor customer verification can enable sophisticated crime even where external technology appears secure. Effective protection therefore begins with strong governance, responsible staff conduct and consequences when institutions fail to safeguard customers.Ghana politics news Conclusion The continent’s rapid financial innovation must be matched by equally rapid advances in regulation, supervision, intelligence and enforcement. Institutions must continually adapt because criminals will keep exploiting new technologies, regulatory gaps and national borders. Africa’s digital financial transformation is too important to be slowed by fraud or weakened by public mistrust. 10th August,2026

THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS STILL IN CEUTA Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the Spanish territory of Ceuta following the arrival of many times that number of people last week, the north African exclave's leader has said. Juan Jesús Vivas told the European Parliament of his "profound sorrow" over the "irreparable tragedy" of 100 deaths that had occurred after roughly 78,000 migrants from neighbouring Morocco arrived by sea in a matter of hours. His comments come as new calls for mass crossings circulate on social media, according to Moroccan media The crisis has created tensions among EU nations who share open borders and has sparked criticism of the Spanish government. However the EU Commission has commended Spain's "swift response" to the crisis, which has included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and its other territory on the north African coast, Melilla. Vivas, a conservative, was critical of the national government's response while addressing the European Parliament on Thursday, saying that he had personally told Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that it had been late and insufficient. "The fact that we don't have numbers on how many are still in Ceuta shows how few resources we have to deal with this situation," Ceuta's mayor-president said. Previous warnings by local officials of an increase in migrant crossings by sea had been ignored, he said. Vivas said that while the return of nearly 75,000 migrants to Morocco had "considerably alleviated" the situation, Ceuta had not yet returned to normal There was still a humanitarian emergency and disturbances to public order in the territory, he said, while it was "basically impossible" to return the minors who had crossed because this required their consent. Spain's interior minister has said the government had allocated €25m (£21.4m; $28.8m) to assist minors in Ceuta. However, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports that 4,860 migrant children have been registered by volunteer groups in Ceuta - double official estimates.News "Neighbours are taking them into their homes, but the situation is unsustainable," a volunteer told the paper. So far no migrant children have been moved to mainland Spain, with right-wing local authorities reluctant to take them in, according to El País. While some on the right have pointed to an agreement with Morocco stipulating co-operation on returning migrant children to their families, Melilla's conservative leader has called for a "gesture of solidarity" from his mainland colleagues.Geographic Reference It is unclear exactly why tens of thousands of migrants attempted to cross into Ceuta on Thursday and Friday last week. The EU's Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has suggested criminal networks spreading disinformation were to blame - an assertion Sánchez has agreed with. The crossings came after Spain's Supreme Court ruled that migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.Government The two exclaves have long been a bone of diplomatic contention between Spain and Morocco, which does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over them. The number of people swimming to Ceuta at once has raised questions about why Morocco's border guards did not attempt to stop them. Vivas characterised the incident as an "unequivocal attack". "Our people feel sad, helpless, anxious, fearful and worried - and they have good reason to, because it is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again," he commented. Spain's interior minister has said he was working "firmly" with Morocco to avoid further "violations", and that any migrants still in Ceuta would be returned there as soon as possible.Executive Branch Brunner said the EU should use all the leverage at its disposal, including visa policy and trade, to secure co-operation from Morocco on migration. 10th August,2026

DR CONGO QUARANTINES RIVER BOAT AFTER 5 DEATHS Congolese authorities are carrying out Ebola and cholera screening for all 255 passengers aboard a boat intercepted on the Congo River. The Yingfeng?2 - operated by a Chinese company - was halted near Bende Bende port, some 65km (40 miles) upstream from the capital, Kinshasa. Health Minister Roger Kamba said screening was being carried out as a precautionary measure after a passenger with fever and diarrhoea, who had left the boat in Mongala Province, died in hospital. A further two adults, a three-year-old child and a newborn have also died. Teams from the health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) have boarded the boat and set up a mobile lab to conduct tests. "For now, no-one has tested positive, and it is likely no one will be positive after 21 days of incubation has elapsed," Kamba told reporters. He also said that the vessel had departed from Mongala in north-western DR Congo 22 days ago, where there have been no Ebola cases, contrary to earlier reports. The passenger had already been travelling on the boat for some days before being taken to Pimu health zone for treatment, still in Mongala The boat travelled more than 1,700km downstream towards Kinshasa before being intercepted Security services have been instructed to quarantine the Yingfeng? 2 offshore in line with WHO standards to prevent potential spread of the virus into the capital. Public health teams remain on standby to act once the boat is secured. The country has been grappling with its 17th Ebola outbreak since 15 May. It has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, which had not been seen for more than a decade. There are no drug treatments that specifically target Bundibugyo, nor does it have a vaccine, although the first human trials for one are currently under way in the UK. Three months since the outbreak was declared, infections and deaths continue to rise. Official figures show that there have been 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths - the second deadliest Ebola outbreak. There are currently more than 17,000 people under monitoring after coming into contact with Ebola cases, 674 patients in isolation or treatment across five provinces, and 776 recoveries, according to authorities. In Kinshasa, preparations for a possible Bundibugyo response are intensifying, with surveillance and rapid-response capacity being reinforced at Maluku, the city's main entry point. Officials have reiterated that the measures are precautionary, but they underline the gravity of the situation 10th August,2026

ISRAEL REJECTS TRUMP’S 15-POINT GAZA PLAN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, stating that no military pull-out will happen until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed. Trump's Board of Peace said last month it had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. But Hamas said handing over its heavy weapons was contingent on Israel ending "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. The Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens", he added. A Hamas official told the BBC on Sunday the group "reaffirms it commitment" to the agreement and it was ready "to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing" the 15-point plan. They called on mediators to ensure "that all parties comply with what has been agreed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, stating that no military pull-out will happen until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed. Trump's Board of Peace said last month it had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. But Hamas said handing over its heavy weapons was contingent on Israel ending "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. The Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens", he added. A Hamas official told the BBC on Sunday the group "reaffirms it commitment" to the agreement and it was ready "to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing" the 15-point plan. They called on mediators to ensure "that all parties comply with what has been agreed". Netanyahu's statement does not come as a surprise. But he has taken some time to make it, perhaps reflecting the difficult position the Israeli leader is in. He clearly is unhappy with Trump's plan but at the same time he will not want to upset his closest ally. It's just over a week since Trump announced what he called a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security" - that Hamas for the first time had agreed to disarm, on condition that Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza. On Sunday, Netanyahu was clear that was not going to happen under his watch. He said Hamas had to disarm first, adding that it couldn't be some "fictitious disarmament" - it had to be real. The reality is any disarmament and withdrawal of Israeli forces would likely need need to be phased. Netanyahu said he was now in discussion with US officials about how to go forward. "They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he said. But just months before Israeli elections and under pressure from members of his right-wing coalition to take a tough stance on Gaza, he is unlikely to want to make concessions. He has faced calls from far-right parts of the coalition to hold a new cabinet vote and end the Gaza plan, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who dismissed the draft as "not acceptable". According to the United Nations, about 1.9 million people - 90% of Gaza's population - have been displaced in the territory since the war in Gaza started. The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. 10th August,2026

BANTAMA PROCESS MARRED BY VIOLENCE Three people have been arrested after Violence disrupted the Bantama New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Executive Elections in Kumasi on Saturday One of the election officers sustained injury to the foot and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The arrested individuals have been identified as Shaibu Bamba, Constituency Organiser, and Abu, Adoato Polling Station Chairman while the third person is yet to be identified Mr Samuel Dattoh Kwaah, Director of Electoral Services at the EC, told the Ghana News Agency on Friday that the Commission had completed all necessary preparations, including logistics, election materials and personnel deployment. “The EC is ready for the election on Saturday and Sunday,” he said, adding: “All the preparations are underway.” Mr Kwaah said the number of voting centres had been increased from 276 constituencies to 385 to accommodate constituencies with large numbers of delegates. “We have 276 constituencies, but some of the constituencies are huge, so we have split those centres. Instead of 276 voting centres, we are going to have 385 voting centres,” he said. 11th July,2026

TOYOTA VOXY CRASHES ON WIAWSO-ASAWINSO HIGHWAY One person is dead while several others have sustained critical injuries following a fatal road accident involving a Toyota Voxy on the sefwi Wiawso - Asawinso Highway in the Western North Region. The accident occurred between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday on the stretch between communities 81 and 82. According to eyewitnesses, the commercial Toyota Voxy had picked up eight passengers from Asawinso and was travelling to Anyanfuri when the driver attempted to swerve potholes on the highway. "The driver tried to avoid a deep pothole but lost control of the vehicle. It veered off the road, somersaulted into the bush, crashed into a culvert and plunged into a nearby stream," an eyewitness recounted. A female passenger died instantly, while the driver and the seven other passengers sustained various degrees of injury. "The impact was very severe. We rushed to the scene to rescue the victims before they were transported to the Asafo Government Hospital for treatment," another eyewitness said. Residents and motorists blamed the poor condition of the Wiawso Asawinso Highway for the crash. The potholes on this stretch have become death traps. We are appealing to the authorities to rehabilitate the road before more lives are lost," a resident appealed. 11th July,2026

DEMOLITION OF KORLE BU'S ‘DEATH TRAP’ MATERNITY BLOCK President John Dramani Mahama has directed the demolition of the ageing Gordon-Guggisberg maternity block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, labeling the structural integrity of the facility a dangerous "death trap" for both patients and healthcare workers Speaking on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the commissioning of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, the President revealed that the old building had deteriorated beyond repair. To prevent any disruption to maternal healthcare, the government has launched the procurement process to construct an ultra-modern replacement maternity block. This initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to elevate specialist healthcare delivery and provide safer medical facilities. The intervention is being driven by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as "Mahama Cares." According to the President, the fund’s mandate has been expanded after realizing that merely financing treatments was insufficient if the physical infrastructure did not exist to support patients. The trust fund will now actively finance the development of specialist facilities, medical equipment acquisition, and professional healthcare training. In tandem with these infrastructure upgrades, President Mahama announced that Cabinet has approved the recruitment and training of 500 critical care nurses. The initial phase of this training program is currently underway at Korle Bu and will soon expand to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Furthermore, to address the historic issue of poorly maintained infrastructure, the government has established the Ghana Medical Equipment Services Limited. Acting as a subsidiary of the Trust Fund, this entity will oversee the maintenance and replacement of specialized medical equipment across public hospitals. Reflecting on past retooling errors, Mahama concluded, 11th July,2026

MAHAMA DIRECTS ZOOMLION President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate opening and operationalization of six transfer stations that were built more than nine years ago to support the disposal of refuse collected during the national cleanup exercise He said this is to prevent the waste from returning into the drains after any rainfall. The directive follows an appeal from the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, for designated dumping points to be made available for waste removed from drainage channels during the post-flood clean-up exercise on July 11 Speaking on day two of the national cleaning exercise, President Mahama said the move was necessary to address a recurring challenge where waste collected from drains is left by roadsides and later washed back into the drainage systems. Yesterday one of the directives I gave was that in the past we do these cleanups, we take all the garbage out of the gutters, but we don't follow up and come and collect the garbage that is by the roadside.And so when the rain falls it just washes all the dirt back in. And so today we're going to concentrate on scooping all that garbage we took out of the gutters into these big trucks that you see there so that they'll take them to the dump sites and go and dump them. But we know that if you look at the city and all the garbage we've taken out, we cannot do it in one day.So, we'll all help to do it today but tomorrow the army and the other agencies will continue until we're able to clear all the garbage that was taken out of the drains. We've had six transfer stations that were built more than nine years ago. Unfortunately, they were not put into operation. So, we've asked the contractor to open the transfer stations, that's Zoomlion, so that the Aboboyas and others can take the garbage to the transfer stations," he stated. 11th July,2026