Ghana’s President John Mahama’s verified X account was hacked for 48 hours, with cybercriminals using it to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme, his spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
The breach, which began on Saturday, was first noticed on Sunday when the hacked account began posting endorsements for Solanafrica, falsely claiming it was “led by Ghana’s President John Mahama to make payments across Africa free using the Solana blockchain.” The hackers encouraged Mahama’s followers to invest, claiming it was an initiative to revolutionize financial transactions on the continent.
After the breach was detected, the fraudulent posts were removed, but the account continued to share cryptocurrency-related content, including teasers about a new memecoin.
Kwasi Ofosu, Mahama’s spokesman, told AFP: “The President’s X account was compromised, and we have taken action to regain control. The account has now been fully restored, and we urge the public to disregard any suspicious cryptocurrency-related posts from the handle.”
This incident highlights the rising concern over cryptocurrency scams in Africa, where digital assets are gaining popularity, but regulatory frameworks remain weak. Scammers have increasingly hijacked verified accounts to promote fake investment opportunities.
In response to the hack, President Mahama posted on X: “My team has restored my account, working with the X support team. Thank you for your enquiries and offers to assist.”
Earlier instances of similar hacks include the compromise of South African opposition leader Julius Malema’s X account in July 2023, and Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu’s account in 2022, both of which were used to promote fraudulent crypto schemes.
Cybersecurity experts warn that high-profile figures, especially in government, need to implement stricter security measures. Abubakar Issaka, a cybersecurity expert at Ghana’s Centre for Cyberwatch and Data Protection, stressed the importance of two-factor authentication, activity monitoring, and ongoing surveillance to prevent such breaches.
Solana, a blockchain with lower transaction fees compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum, has gained popularity in Africa, but its name is increasingly being used by scammers to defraud investors.
The President’s team confirmed they are taking further steps to prevent future misuse of Mahama’s account.
AFP
