On December 17, 2025, Ghana deployed a contingent of 54 military engineers from the Ghana Armed Forces (primarily from the 48th or 14th Engineer Regiment, depending on reports) to Jamaica to assist with reconstruction efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Key Details

• The deployment was announced and carried out at the request of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, after discussions with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
• The engineers are tasked with rebuilding critical infrastructure (roads, shelters, public facilities), clearing debris, setting up temporary shelters (including tent cities), and providing technical and logistical support.
• Transportation was provided by a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft, carrying the personnel and over 65,000 pounds of equipment from Accra to Kingston.
• This mission highlights Pan-African and Afro-Caribbean solidarity, building on Ghana’s earlier shipment of humanitarian aid (food, rice, blankets, medicines) to Jamaica and other affected countries.

Background on Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa was a catastrophic Category 5 storm that made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, 2025, with sustained winds up to 185 mph (297 km/h). It was the strongest hurricane on record to hit Jamaica (surpassing Hurricane Gilbert in 1988) and one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes ever.

• It caused widespread destruction, killing at least 45 people in Jamaica (with total regional deaths over 100, including in Haiti and Cuba).
• Damage in Jamaica is estimated at $8.8–10 billion USD, affecting homes, hospitals, agriculture, and infrastructure, displacing hundreds of thousands.

This deployment represents Ghana’s growing role in international humanitarian response and South-South cooperation.

On December 15, 2025, former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo publicly endorsed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer for the upcoming leadership race (ahead of the 2028 elections), explicitly stating her political future lies with him rather than Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

Key Details from Her Statements

• Safo declared: “It is time for Bawumia” and tied her political prospects to his leadership.
• She openly acknowledged sharing two children (a son and a daughter) with Kennedy Agyapong, a fellow NPP heavyweight and potential rival contender.
• Despite this personal connection, she emphasized: “This is not a matter of family and friends in the NPP party.” She expressed concerns that her career could be at risk under an Agyapong presidency, while denying any personal animosity toward him.
• Safo defended Bawumia against blame for the NPP’s 2024 electoral defeat and economic challenges, arguing he was not the finance minister and lacked overriding authority (likening his role to a “driver’s mate”).

Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA), in a joint intelligence-led operation with National Security operatives, conducted an early morning raid in Kasoa Tuba (Central Region) On Saturday December 13, 2025; this resulted in the arrest of 32 Nigerian nationals suspected of running an organized romance scam syndicate.

The operation seized devices like laptops and phones, which are now undergoing forensic analysis. This announcement came from Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, who praised the Cyber Security Agency and described it as “another massive blow against cybercrime in Ghana.

Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, in a appreciation post on X to CSA

He emphasized the government’s commitment to making Ghana an “unattractive destination for cybercrimes” and urged public support for security agencies to protect the country’s reputation. This arrest is part of Ghana’s intensified crackdown on cybercrime in 2025, following similar operations, including INTERPOL-coordinated efforts across Africa that led to hundreds of arrests for romance scams and extortion.

What Are Romance Scams and Why Do You Need to Know?

Romance scams (also known as “online dating scams” or “confidence fraud”) are a form of cybercrime where fraudsters create fake profiles on dating sites, social media, or apps to build emotional relationships with victims. Once trust is established, they invent excuses (e.g., medical emergencies, travel costs, or investment opportunities) to request money, gifts, or financial information.

Key facts and red flags:

• Common tactics: Scammers often pose as attractive professionals (e.g., military personnel, doctors, or businessmen) abroad. They quickly profess love, avoid video calls or in-person meetings, and pressure victims for urgent financial help.
• Victims: Frequently target elderly or lonely individuals, but anyone can fall prey. In many cases, victims are from Western countries (e.g., US, UK), with losses running into millions globally.
• Global impact: The FBI reported over $1 billion in losses from romance scams in the US alone in recent years. In Africa, Nigeria and Ghana have been identified as hubs, though operations often involve international networks.
• Why it’s rising: Easy access to the internet, anonymity online, and economic pressures drive participation. Some scammers justify it as “retribution” or economic necessity, but it’s illegal and causes severe emotional and financial harm.

How to protect yourself:

• • Never send money to someone you’ve only met online.
  • Verify identities (reverse image search photos, insist on video chats).
  • Be wary of sob stories or requests for wire transfers, gift cards, or crypto.
  • Report suspicions to authorities (e.g., FBI’s IC3 in the US or local cybercrime units).

This incident highlights how cybercrime networks exploit borders, but also shows increasing international and regional cooperation to combat them. Stay vigilant online—trust is earned slowly, especially in digital relationships.