Accra: Ghana, in collaboration with INTERPOL and other international law-enforcement partners, has made significant strides in combating transnational organised crime, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has said.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ghana's active participation in INTERPOL-coordinated operations has resulted in the arrest of multiple suspects, recovery of stolen assets, rescue of victims, and disruption of criminal networks operating across borders. COP Donkor highlighted these achievements in a statement commemorating the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, observed under the theme 'Protecting Against Vulnerability; Building Trust and Legitimacy in Policing.'
COP Donkor noted the evolving nature of crime, emphasizing the importance of international police cooperation in tackling crimes that cross national borders. She mentioned that Ghana, having been a member of INTERPOL since 1958, facilitates international police cooperation through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Accra.
The impact of this cooperation was evident in Ghana's involvement in Operation Contender 3.0, an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting romance scams and sextortion across 14 African countries in August 2025. This operation led to the arrest of 68 suspects, seizure of 835 electronic devices, and identification of 108 victims. Financial investigations revealed losses of approximately US$450,000, with about US$70,000 recovered.
Additionally, COP Donkor referenced Operation Sentinel, another INTERPOL-coordinated cybercrime operation conducted across 19 African countries between October and November 2025. This operation identified the ransomware strain used in an attack on a Ghanaian institution, resulting in the theft of over US$120,000. Nearly 30 terabytes of data were recovered, and the perpetrators arrested.
COP Donkor emphasized that the results of these operations were not just statistics but represented tangible outcomes such as businesses protected, savings recovered, digital infrastructure secured, and criminal networks disrupted. She further stressed that behind these figures were real victims, manipulated through deceitful means.
Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, COP Donkor remarked that effective information exchange could transform into actionable intelligence, ultimately protecting victims and recovering their assets. She underscored the year's theme, which challenges law-enforcement agencies to focus on protecting vulnerable individuals.
In January 2026, collaboration with Australian authorities led to the arrest of three suspects and the rescue of four Ghanaian children aged between six and 13 in the Ashanti and Bono Regions. COP Donkor posed a rhetorical question on the value of restoring a child's safety, dignity, and future, emphasizing that the rescue of a child from exploitation is priceless.
COP Donkor concluded by stating that the principles of international cooperation apply to combatting other forms of transnational organised crime, such as vehicle-related crimes and firearms smuggling. As a member of the INTERPOL Africa Committee, she reiterated the need for global police cooperation to counter increasingly international criminal networks.
On the International Day of Police Cooperation, COP Donkor delivered a clear message: Ghana's commitment to cooperation should transcend borders. The Ghana Police Service, through the CID and INTERPOL NCB Accra, remains dedicated to collaborating with INTERPOL, African partners, and law-enforcement agencies worldwide to protect victims, disrupt criminal networks, and build safer communities.
COP Donkor concluded by stating that when police services cooperate, criminals lose the advantage of borders, information-sharing increases the chances of finding victims, and joint investigations leave criminals with fewer places to hide. She affirmed that professional, accountable, and trusted policing contributes to stronger communities.