Cybercrime Now Industrialised, Borderless Ecosystem Targeting Ghanaians’ Money – CID Boss

The Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, says Ghana’s digital transformation has created enormous opportunities, with criminals exploiting the speed and convenience.

Speaking at the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Media Launch 2026, COP Donkor noted that from social engineering and stolen identities to AI and cryptocurrency, these tools have long entered the criminal toolbox to drive organised, high-speed fraud.

She stressed that cybercrime is no longer isolated offending but has become an industrialised, borderless criminal ecosystem targeting the hard-earned money of citizens.

“AI is now enabling 55 per cent of cybercrimes across Africa based on INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment 2026, and Ghana is right in the crosshairs. With generative AI cloning voices and automating fake investments at scale, cybercrime losses have exploded, hitting our economies and citizens directly,” she said.

COP Donkor added that the Criminal Investigations Department has transformed to match the threat.

According to her, a mobile phone is a crime scene, a wallet transaction is a lead, and an IP log connects the dots.

She disclosed that the CID continues to decentralise cybercrime experts across all Police Commands and is deploying advanced digital forensics.

This is to ensure that modern law enforcement moves confidently between the physical and digital worlds, placing technology directly in the service of victims, investigations, and justice.

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