The United States has extradited nine Ghanaians involved in cybercrime and related offences from Ghana this year, the US Embassy in Accra has disclosed.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the embassy last Friday, December 12, 2025, the Chargé d’Affaires, Rolf Olson, said the individuals were accused of offences including online impersonation and defrauding victims of millions of dollars. He was joined at the event by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa at the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, William B Stevens.

Mr Olson clarified that extradition does not automatically mean the accused will be jailed, stressing that they are entitled to due process under US law and will only be punished if found guilty by a court.

“We go through a formal legal process to make a request that someone often be arrested first because they may not necessarily be in prison, and then are legally sent to the United States to stand trial. Everyone gets a fair trial. They’re not guilty. They will be firmly innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

He added that if the accused are convicted, they could face prison sentences depending on the nature of the crimes proven in court.

“These are the kinds of people who, obviously, if proven guilty in court, they should be in prison. They shouldn’t be out being able to take advantage of particularly older people, although any of us, I think, obviously, would be horrified at the idea of being a victim of this kind of crime,” Mr Olson stated.

Cooperation

The Chargé d’Affaires praised the Ghanaian government, particularly the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, for what he described as strong cooperation in combating cybercrime.

He described the extradition of nine individuals within a single year as an “extraordinary achievement” and commended Ghanaian authorities for their collaboration on law enforcement and the rule of law.

“Extradition of nine individuals from Ghana in one year is an extraordinary achievement, and the cooperation with the government, obviously with the President, the Attorney General, Interior Minister, has been extraordinary. It’s been a really strong collaboration,” he said.

Extradition requests

Mr Olson said the US remains committed to working closely with Ghana to tackle cybercrime and protect citizens from financial fraud. He also noted that the United States is open to receiving extradition requests from other governments, including Ghana.

“We are always open to receiving extradition requests. That is absolutely a firm part of any good bilateral relationship, and certainly ours. The process of evaluating an extradition request, on the American side, is very well established,” he said.

He explained that such processes are often lengthy and subject to judicial scrutiny, noting that decisions ultimately rest with US judges, who may approve or reject requests.

“There’s no individual case that can be prejudged because US judges make decisions on this. And they are, of course, a separate branch of government. So, they have the ability to approve or disapprove a request. But we’re always open to that kind of collaboration,” he added.

Deportation

Touching on deportation, Mr Olson said President Donald Trump has prioritised addressing illegal immigration, leading to the deportation of some foreign nationals who are unlawfully present in the United States.

He said the US is determined to protect its borders and enforce its immigration laws while respecting individual rights. He also noted that the US has agreements with several countries, including safe third country arrangements, which allow individuals to seek refuge elsewhere if they cannot remain in the United States.

Mr Olson praised the Ghanaian government for its cooperation in the return of Ghanaian nationals and other West Africans who have exhausted their legal options in the US.