For 48 hours, cybercriminals took control of Ghanaian President John Mahama’s verified X account, using it to push a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. The hackers falsely claimed that Mahama was launching Solanafrica, a supposed blockchain initiative aimed at making payments across Africa free and seamless.
The scam posts, which urged followers to invest in the fake project, were first noticed on Sunday—a day after the breach began. Even after the President’s team deleted the posts, the compromised account continued to share crypto-related content, hinting at the launch of a new memecoin.
Account Restored, but Concerns Remain
On Tuesday, Mahama’s spokesperson, Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed that the breach had been resolved.
“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,” he told AFP.
Mahama also reassured his followers via X:
“My team has restored my account, working with the X support team. Thank you for your enquiries and offers to assist.”
Crypto Scams on the Rise in Africa
The attack highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals hijacking high-profile accounts to promote crypto scams in Africa—where digital currencies are booming, but regulatory oversight remains weak.
Similar breaches have targeted:
- South African politician Julius Malema (2023) – His X account was hacked to promote a fake crypto token.
- Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu (2022) – His account was flooded with bogus crypto giveaways.
Cybersecurity experts warn that high-profile individuals must go beyond two-factor authentication to safeguard their accounts.
“Government officials and public figures need 24/7 monitoring, strict backend security measures, and limited third-party access to prevent these breaches,” advised Abubakar Issaka, a cybersecurity expert from Ghana’s Centre for Cyberwatch and Data Protection.
With crypto scams on the rise, authorities say they are taking extra precautions to ensure Mahama’s account remains secure. However, this incident serves as a wake-up call for other prominent figures in Africa’s digital economy.
