The Cyber Security Authority and the Ghana Police Service are actively combatting the pervasive issue of online fraud in Ghana.

According to recent data released by the Cyber Security Authority, the country has suffered significant losses, with a reported loss of GH¢49.5 million in the first nine months of 2023 due to cybercriminal activities.

Although the police have conducted numerous operations and apprehended many individuals involved in online fraud, it appears that these actions have not deterred others from engaging in this illicit activity.

In a revealing GhanaWeb documentary titled "Escaping the Crime," the spotlight is cast on the experiences of young Nigerian men who were enticed to come to Ghana and participate in online fraud rings.

They provide insights into the inner workings of these criminal networks, shedding light on the harsh conditions they endured while confined to houses rented by their handlers for conducting their unlawful operations.

These individuals also share their stories of how they managed to escape when they could no longer tolerate the circumstances.

Moreover, the documentary affirms the suspicions of many that mystical practices, often referred to as "juju," play a significant role in the operations of these criminal rings.

This ongoing issue of online fraud in Ghana underscores the importance of continued efforts by both law enforcement agencies and authorities to combat cybercrime effectively.

“These things we’re doing, there’s something we call grace, you can just jam a helper he’ll come and just help you and some that are forming stubborn and you see they have money, you can’t just let them go like that, you can just go and tie them… anything juju we’re not doing it for our own self, we’re using it lock those people to favour us,” one of them said.

A second also revealed that “it dey work oo it depends and wetin will make am work na based your chairman, if he go that juju then that baba go give am condition and the general condition they mostly give to all the chairmen in this Ghana na to stay away from sex… but most of the chairmen they won’t and that is the reason why boys are not collecting money from the office like my chairman, he changes women like boxers.”

The frequency of this renewal remains uncertain, but it was noted that their leaders renew the mystical practice, known as "juju."

Another individual shared that their leader conducts a ritual involving the use of fetish items. These items are placed in a pot and set on fire. Participants are instructed to speak their intentions as the smoke billows out and surrounds them, although they often find themselves unable to articulate their thoughts.