Operation Blackout Was Ghanaian-Led, Not FBI Operation – CSA Criticises FBI Director
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has rejected claims suggesting that the recent anti-cybercrime operation in Ghana, codenamed “Operation Blackout,” was conceived, commanded or executed by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Authority says the operation, also referred to as “Operation Cyber Hunt,” was led and coordinated by the CSA, with support from a coalition of Ghanaian and international partners.
The clarification follows a post on X by the Director of the FBI, Mr. Kashyap Pramod Patel, concerning the operation in Ghana.
In a press release dated October 8, 2026, the CSA said it has taken notice of the post and rejects any portrayal of the operation as independently conceived or executed by the FBI.
According to the CSA, Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks, and it cannot be said to be part of an FBI-led global programme, neither was it conducted under a foreign operational command.
The Authority explained that the operation was carried out with support from Ghana’s National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom, the FBI, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria (EFCC), the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC), the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Office of the Attorney-General.
Stressing Ghana’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, the CSA stated that Ghana is a sovereign Republic governed by its Constitution and laws, and that foreign law enforcement agencies have no independent authority to exercise police powers or conduct arrests within Ghana.
Their participation, it said, must take place through lawful cooperation, with the authorisation and involvement of relevant Ghanaian authorities.
The CSA acknowledged the valuable intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA, noting that such partnerships support Ghana’s efforts to combat transnational cybercrime and remain important to effective investigations.
However, it insisted that the contribution of international partners must be described accurately.
“The CSA calls upon the FBI to clarify its public account of the Ghana-led operation and acknowledge the contributions of the Ghanaian institutions and other international partners responsible for its execution,” the statement said.
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