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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Criminal Investigations Department

Also known as: CID

Law enforcement agency that warns of transnational criminal schemes, including technology-driven trafficking and fraud operations affecting West Africa.

2026-04-282026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Joy Online

    The following day, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena reported himself to the Regional Police Headquarters and was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department.

    Inside the Kwabenya shooting: The family feud, arrests and gun licence crackdown
  3. Joy Online

    Mr Akofena reported himself to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters on June 22, a day after the incident, and was subsequently handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department for questioning.

    Family raises safety concerns after Adwoa Safo’s brother granted bail
  4. Joy Online

    According to the police, Israel Safo voluntarily reported to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters on June 22 before being handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to assist with investigations.

    Adwoa Safo referred to Bank Hospital for removal of bullet pellets lodged in her head after Sunday’s shooting
  5. Joy Online

    Akofena, the younger brother of former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo, reported himself to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters on June 22, 2026, a day after the incident, before being handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department for interrogation.

    Adwoa Safo’s brother, eight others granted GH¢500,000 bail over Kwabenya shooting incident
  6. The Chronicle

    The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander later led a team to visit the injured former MP at the hospital, while the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, COP Lydia Donkor, also joined the investigations.

    Adwoa Safo Shooting Saga: Safo Akofena In Police Custody …Two Pistols, Cache Of Munitions Recovered
  7. Joy Online

    He was subsequently handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to assist with ongoing investigations.

    Police arrest Israel Kwadwo Akofena Safo and 2 others over Adwoa Safo shooting incident
  8. Joy Online

    The suspects have been handed over to the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigations.

    Kristo Asafo family rejects Akofena leadership claim, says Adwoa Safo is the rightful heir
  9. Joy Online

    A formal complaint was subsequently lodged with the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, after which the matter was transferred to the Cybercrime Unit.

    Accra High Court grants bail to Shatta Wale supporter on trial for false news against Stonebwoy
  10. The Chronicle

    The communication indicated that the suspects have since been handed over to the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigations, while officers from the Crime Scene Management Unit processed the scene.

    How Sarah Adwoa Sarfo Shooting Incident Unfolded
  11. Joy Online

    When he reported to the Criminal Investigations Department in Accra on May 26, it was not Appiah-Kubi who walked him in but Godfred Dame, attorney-general and justice minister from January 2021 to January 2025 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Twice in a year, Chairman Wontumi’s lead lawyer has walked away

Friday 21 August

  1. Police arrest man over TikTok video about Mion Lana death

    Northern Regional Police Command arrested 27-year-old Abdulai Mohammed Saani in Kumbungu on Thursday, August 20, over a provocative TikTok video about the death of the late Mion Lana, Abukari Mahama. Police say investigations are ongoing to determine how the video was produced and shared, and whether others were involved.

    21 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 17 August

  1. CSA encourages Ghanaians to report cyber threats proactively

    The Cyber Security Authority has urged Ghanaians to report suspected cyber threats before suffering financial or other losses, noting that cybercrime has evolved to target critical sectors including banking, finance, mining, energy, water systems and government institutions. The CSA encourages the public to contact its 292 call centre before taking suspicious actions online, rather than waiting until they become victims.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 7 August

  1. COP Lydia Donkor mentors young girls at JFC WELL GIRLS programme

    The Junior Football Camp's third WELL GIRLS mentorship session featured Commissioner of Police Lydia Donkor, who encouraged participants to embrace change and pursue their ambitions, selecting four girls aspiring to join the Ghana Police Service as her mentees in a structured leadership initiative.

    7 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 3 August

  1. Government launches cyber capability project for community media

    The government has launched the National Community Media Cyber Capability Building Project to equip community journalists with skills to combat cybercrime and promote digital safety. The initiative, launched by the Africa Centre for Digital Transformation in partnership with the Cyber Security Authority, aims to strengthen community media's role in cybercrime awareness and digital risk communication.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Fifteen suspected galamseyers arrested near Obuasi school

    Fifteen suspected illegal miners, including an alleged kingpin, were arrested and three excavators seized during a joint security operation near Sanso Methodist School in Obuasi after a viral video exposed the site. The miners had been operating for about two weeks before the operation was launched.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 31 July

  1. Minister warns of digital trafficking scams targeting Ghanaian youth

    Ghana's Gender Minister says human traffickers are increasingly using online platforms, fake job ads, and social media to lure vulnerable Ghanaians with false promises of employment and overseas migration. She called for coordinated action by parents, communities, media, and all citizens to combat the shift from traditional to digital trafficking methods.

    31 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Thursday 23 July

  1. Ghana must adapt cybersecurity strategy to evolving threats

    The Cyber Security Authority has urged organisations to view cybersecurity as a continuous process rather than one-time investment, stating that Ghana's strategy is built on collaboration among regulators and industry players. The banking and finance sector is one of Ghana's 13 critical national infrastructure sectors, with the Bank of Ghana coordinating cybersecurity within the financial sector alongside the CSA.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NDC TikToker arrested over remarks against Bawumia, bail set

    Prince Aboagye, a 38-year-old TikToker and NDC Branch Organiser, was arrested on July 19, 2026 after posting an offensive video about former Vice President Bawumia on TikTok. He was charged with offensive conduct and publication of false news, granted bail of GH¢200,000, and remanded into police custody after failing to meet bail conditions.

    23 July 2026 · The Chronicle

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Online network marketing schemes threaten Ghanaian youth

    International online network marketing schemes are increasingly targeting Ghanaian youth with promises of quick wealth and financial independence, raising concerns about recruitment methods, public health risks from overcrowded living conditions, and threats to national development and security.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana Police arrest 26 Nigerians in trafficking and cybercrime operations

    The Ghana Police Service arrested 26 Nigerian nationals in intelligence-led operations between July 3 and 15, 2026, targeting human trafficking and cybercrime syndicates, rescuing 33 victims and recovering electronic devices used in cyber-enabled fraud. Police also arrested two suspects in the Ashanti Region for alleged illegal firearms and ammunition trafficking.

    22 July 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Police arrest 10 in cyber fraud operation, rescue nine trafficking victims

    The Tema Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects in an intelligence-led operation against cyber-enabled fraud in Mataheko-Afienya, Greater Accra Region, and rescued nine suspected human trafficking victims. Officers recovered 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones believed to have been used in fraudulent activities.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Five arrested for human trafficking, cybercrime in Kwabenya

    Ghana Police arrested five suspects following an intelligence-led operation at Kwabenya on July 12, 2026, rescuing 18 victims allegedly trafficked for cybercrime. Officers recovered 52 mobile phones and internet devices from a residential property where the trafficking occurred.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Online network marketing schemes targeting Ghanaian youth

    International online network marketing schemes are increasingly attracting Ghanaian youth with promises of quick wealth and financial independence, but concerns have emerged regarding recruitment methods targeting vulnerable and unemployed youth. Recent observations in municipalities and towns across Ghana revealed overcrowded living conditions among participants, presenting significant public health risks.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 20 July

  1. Lawyer Kpebu sees weak grounds for Wontumi appeal

    Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has expressed doubts about the appeal prospects of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in connection with illegal mining. Speaking on Joy FM, Kpebu said he had not identified compelling legal grounds that could lead an appellate court to overturn the High Court's decision, though Wontumi's legal team has indicated its intention to appeal.

    20 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 16 July

  1. Bakpa Tosukope residents seek justice for destroyed school

    Residents of Bakpa Tosukope in the Volta Region are demanding police investigation into the destruction of a community-funded school project on July 27, 2025. The school, initiated by community fundraising in January 2025 to replace a collapsed kindergarten structure, had its foundation destroyed by unknown individuals, with suspects arrested but the case reportedly stalled.

    16 July 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Police destroy 11 cannabis farms in Volta region

    The Volta Regional Police Command and the Drug Law Enforcement Unit destroyed 11 large cannabis farms in the Peki-Dzake enclave on July 9, 2026, following an operation involving 60 personnel from multiple police units to combat illicit drug cultivation and trafficking in the region.

    14 July 2026 · Daily Guide

Thursday 9 July

  1. EOCO and INTERPOL tackle cross-border trafficking and scams

    The Economic and Organised Crime Office and INTERPOL have launched a regional workshop in Accra with law enforcement officials from ten West and Central African countries to strengthen intelligence sharing and coordinate joint operations against human trafficking, migrant smuggling and organised scam networks. The workshop focuses on combating the "Model Q" criminal scheme, which combines trafficking, smuggling, fraud and digital recruitment to exploit vulnerable people across borders.

    9 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Tuesday 7 July

  1. Interior Ministry grants year-end moratorium for firearm licence compliance

    Ghana's Interior Ministry has eased its suspension of firearm licences, allowing existing gun owners until year-end to comply with new requirements including mandatory training, mental health assessments and drug tests, rather than forcing immediate re-registration. The concession comes as the government cited citizen hardship from flooding as a reason to delay the implementation.

    7 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 6 July

  1. QNET renews partnership with EOCO to combat trafficking, fraud

    QNET has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting law enforcement in fighting human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and organised fraud, highlighting its partnership with Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as a model of public-private collaboration against sophisticated criminal networks in West and Central Africa.

    6 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. CID warns of Model Q trafficking network in West Africa

    Ghana's CID Director-General has warned of a sophisticated criminal model called "Model Q" that is transforming human trafficking and migrant smuggling across West and Central Africa through technology-driven operations combining online deception, financial fraud and psychological manipulation.

    6 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 25 June

  1. Herald editor Larry Dogbey jailed seven days for contempt

    The Editor of The Herald newspaper, Larry Dogbey, has been convicted and sentenced to seven days in prison by an Accra High Court over the newspaper's publication of a case involving Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA. According to Dogbey, The Herald reported only on a petition submitted by the multinational company to state institutions including the CID, EOCO, GIPC, and the Attorney-General's Department.

    25 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Amrahia residents appeal to Mahama over property demolitions

    Residents of Amrahia Dairy Farm in Greater Accra have appealed to President Mahama to investigate the demolition of structures, including a church, which they say were legally acquired. The demolitions have caused financial losses running into thousands of cedis, amid disputed ownership of land that was part of a state-acquired dairy farm.

    25 June 2026 · The Chronicle

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Kwabenya shooting tied to church succession dispute, arrests follow

    A shooting incident in Kwabenya involving former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has escalated a church succession dispute at the Kristo Asafo Mission into a criminal matter, resulting in multiple arrests, suspension of a security company license, and revocation of all firearm licenses in the country.

    24 June 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Family raises safety concerns after Adwoa Safo's brother gets bail

    The family of former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has expressed concern over the decision to grant bail to her younger brother, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, and eight others facing charges in connection with a shooting incident at Kwabenya on June 21. The Adenta Circuit Court granted each of the nine accused bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, but the family fears for its safety while Akofena is out on bail and has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Adwoa Safo transferred to Bank Hospital for bullet pellet removal

    Former MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has been referred from 37 Military Hospital to Bank Hospital in Accra for specialist treatment to remove bullet pellets and shattered glass fragments lodged in her head following a June 21 shooting incident at a residence linked to a family dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Adwoa Safo's brother and eight others granted bail over shooting

    The Adenta Circuit Court granted GH¢500,000 bail with two sureties each to Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, younger brother of former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo, and eight others over alleged involvement in a Kwabenya shooting incident. The incident is linked to a leadership dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder in September 2025.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Interior Ministry tightens firearm licensing with mental health, drug tests

    Ghana's Interior Ministry has overhauled its firearm licensing system to require mandatory mental health assessments, drug screening, and structured training before applicants can obtain or renew gun licenses. Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak announced the reforms as a effort to close gaps in the current system and improve public safety.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Safo Akofena arrested over shooting of MP Adwoa Safo

    Nana Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, at the centre of a succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission, has been arrested and placed in police custody following a shooting that wounded former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo. Police recovered two loaded Glock pistols from his vehicle and additional ammunition from his residence during the investigation.

    23 June 2026 · The Chronicle

Monday 22 June

  1. Police arrest three over shooting incident involving former MP

    Ghana Police Service has arrested Israel Kwadwo Safo (also known as Akofena), along with Nana Kwaku Afriyie and Kwadwo Safo Koomson, in connection with a shooting incident involving former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo. A search of Safo's vehicle and residence recovered firearms, ammunition, and loaded magazines; all three suspects are in custody and expected to appear in court on June 23, 2026.

    22 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Kristo Asafo family affirms Adwoa Safo as rightful heir

    The family of late Apostle Kwadwo Safo has rejected claims by his son Akofena to leadership of Kristo Asafo Mission, stating that Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, the former MP for Dome-Kwabenya, is the duly recognised Head of the Kwadwo Safo Family. The statement follows a shooting incident at the residence of Adwoa Safo's brother, though Adwoa Safo is reported to be in stable condition and responding positively to medical treatment.

    22 June 2026 · Joy Online

Criminal Investigations Department — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute