A major counterfeiting operation uncovered in Sapeiman, a suburb of the Ga West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region, has raised alarms in Ghana’s financial and security sectors following the discovery of official Bank of Ghana (BoG) cash boxes at the site.

This development is being seen as a potential sign of insider involvement and a serious breach of the country’s financial regulatory system.

The sophisticated criminal enterprise, which was exposed in February, operated under the guise of a small battery-charging shop located in a seemingly abandoned building.4

The operation, which had managed to evade authorities for some time, was allegedly concealed by an elderly man known locally as the “Battery Doctor,” who is believed to have either unknowingly—or perhaps knowingly—shielded one of the most sophisticated counterfeit syndicates in recent years.

In an exclusive inspection of the site, Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, confirmed that the cas

h boxes discovered were authentic Bank of Ghana property. “Authorities have verified that these boxes are genuine,” Jakpa said, emphasizing the gravity of the discovery and its potential implications for national financial security.

Investigations revealed that the facility contained ten 40-foot containers filled with counterfeit Ghana cedi and US dollar notes, along with fake gold bars and gold-plated metals. Jakpa further disclosed that two additional containers, believed to be part of the operation, were removed just before security forces arrived at the scene, suggesting the possibility of inside information being leaked to the criminals.

The key suspect behind the syndicate is a man identified only as “Alhaji.” National Security operatives have confirmed that “Alhaji” plays a central role in the operation, with evidence directly linking him to the counterfeit production hub. “Alhaji is a central figure in this syndicate, and efforts are underway to bring him to justice,” Jakpa stated.