A Ghanaian pastor, Rev. Emmanuel Boakye-Danquah, has fled after a National Security operation uncovered transnational counterfeit currency scheme involving his church at Klagon.
The operation was part of a nationwide crackdown by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which says it has dismantled four major counterfeit currency printing hubs and arrested 16 suspects.
According to the NSCS, criminal syndicates deliberately used churches and religious administrative offices to conceal their printing activities. The premises were allegedly used to mask the noise and vibration from printing machines and to store printing materials and finished counterfeit notes.
The operations were carried out between June 12 and July 24, 2026, following months of covert intelligence gathering. Six coordinated raids were conducted across the Greater Accra Region and surrounding districts.
The NSCS said security and intelligence agencies seized four counterfeit currency printing machines, six vehicles and two motorcycles allegedly used to transport and distribute the fake currencies.
The operation also led to the seizure of US$543,000, GH¢196,600 and CFA 60,000 in finished counterfeit notes.
Security agencies also recovered unprocessed coupons allegedly intended for further printing, including US$5,293,500, GH¢19,553,700 and CFA 623,550,000.
The 16 suspects, along with physical and digital exhibits recovered during the operations, have been transferred to the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) for forensic examination and further legal processes.
