GOIL Sounds Alarm Over Online Fraud    

as Mahama’s Name Dragged into Scam Network

By Gifty Boateng
Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) has formally petitioned the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) to investigate a surge in online fraud schemes exploiting its corporate identity and the name of former President John Mahama. The company warns that the proliferation of fake websites, social media pages, and digital adverts promising unrealistic investment returns poses a growing threat to public trust and national security.
In a letter addressed to NITA Director-General Dr. Mark Oliver-Kevor, GOIL’s Chief Operating Officer Dr. Marcus Deo Dake described the situation as “persistent and dangerous,” noting that repeated public disclaimers have failed to stem the tide of impersonation and deception. The company’s CEO, Edward Abambire Bawa, endorsed the call for swift action.
The fraudulent platforms, according to GOIL, falsely claim endorsement from Mahama and promise guaranteed monthly returns through fictitious investment schemes. “These advertisements and websites are FAKE and not authorized by GOIL,” the company stated in a recent alert. “Any use of GOIL’s name, logo or image in such promotions is fraudulent and intended to mislead the public.”
GOIL’s complaint outlines three urgent requests: that NITA identify the operators behind the schemes, block or remove the fake platforms, and coordinate with law enforcement to prosecute the perpetrators. The company argues that the misuse of Mahama’s name not only misleads the public but risks undermining national security.
The issue appears to be part of a broader pattern. Just days earlier, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, working with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), arrested Emmanuel Ofori, a suspected fraudster accused of impersonating the Secretariat across multiple social media accounts. Ofori allegedly duped several scholarship seekers out of substantial sums.
GSS Director Alex Kwaku Asafo Agyei issued a public warning urging citizens to rely exclusively on the Secretariat’s official website, scholarships.gov.gh, and reiterated that no fees are charged for scholarship applications. He encouraged victims to report incidents and submit evidence to aid prosecution.
The twin cases highlight the vulnerability of Ghana’s digital space to impersonation and financial scams, particularly those targeting public institutions and high-profile figures. With GOIL and the GSS both calling for coordinated enforcement, pressure is mounting on NITA and law enforcement agencies to act decisively.