Counterfeit Syndicate Busted by National Security

A major counterfeiting operation discovered in Sarpeiman, a suburb of the Ga West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region, has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s financial and security sectors following the discovery of official Bank of Ghana (BoG) cash boxes on the premises.

The case is now being viewed as a possible indication of insider involvement and a significant breach in the country’s financial regulatory system.

The elaborate criminal enterprise was exposed in February and operated under the front of a modest battery-charging shop in a seemingly abandoned building.

The operation, which had evaded authorities for some time, was allegedly masked by an elderly man known locally as the “Battery Doctor,” believed to be unknowingly—or perhaps knowingly—shielding one of the most sophisticated counterfeit syndicates seen in recent years.

In an exclusive inspection of the site, Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, confirmed that the cash boxes found were genuine Bank of Ghana property. “Authorities have verified that these boxes are genuine,” Jakpa said, stressing the seriousness of the discovery and the implications for national financial security.

Investigations revealed that the facility housed ten 40-foot containers filled with counterfeit Ghana cedi and US dollar notes, as well as fake gold bars and gold-plated metals. Jakpa added that two more containers, believed to be part of the operation, were removed shortly before security forces arrived at the scene—hinting at the possibility of inside information being leaked to the criminals.

The key suspect behind the syndicate is a man identified only as “Alhaji.” National Security operatives say “Alhaji” is a central figure in the operation, with evidence directly linking him to the counterfeit production hub. “Alhaji is a central figure in this syndicate, and efforts are underway to bring him to justice,” Jakpa stated.