Meta has removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups from Facebook and Instagram as part of a major international operation targeting online fraud networks operating in West Africa and targeting victims in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries.

The coordinated crackdown, announced on October 13, 2026, brought together major technology companies and law enforcement agencies from several countries to disrupt criminal networks involved in online scams.

According to announcements by Meta and the United States Department of Justice, the operation targeted suspected scam centres and associated digital infrastructure in West African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. Microsoft and other technology companies also took action against suspected fraudulent activity.

The operation involved cooperation between the UK’s National Crime Agency, the FBI, the US Department of Justice and other law enforcement partners, alongside private-sector technology and financial intelligence firms.

Arrests and Victims Rescued

Authorities reported that 28 individuals had been arrested and 117 people who had been trafficked and held at scam centres were rescued. The rescued individuals were found in Ghana, where investigators said criminal groups had forced victims to work in scam operations.

The operation also generated investigative leads concerning more than 30 suspected scam centres. Information shared among participating companies and law enforcement agencies is expected to support further investigations into the networks and the people directing them.

The findings highlight the complex nature of organised online fraud, in which people forced to carry out scams may themselves be victims of trafficking and coercion.

Different Types of Online Fraud Identified

Investigators identified several forms of suspected fraud linked to the networks, including fraudulent investment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, fake job and task offers, romance scams and schemes involving individuals impersonating police officers, government officials or military personnel.

In some cases, fraudsters reportedly created false online identities to establish trust with their targets before persuading them to transfer money. Other schemes involved fake online shops, goods that were never delivered and offers to recover money previously lost to scams.

These tactics can exploit victims’ trust, financial pressures and desire for investment opportunities or employment.

Technology Companies and Police Coordinate Efforts

The operation, which began during the week of October 6, involved the exchange of intelligence across digital platforms, financial systems and national borders.

Participating companies used information gathered through their own investigations and information shared by law enforcement agencies to identify suspected accounts and related criminal infrastructure. Meta said the removal of more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups was part of a broader effort to disrupt the networks rather than simply remove individual pieces of content.

The US Department of Justice also reported that private-sector partners identified more than US$11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen. Cryptocurrency-related intelligence and other financial leads were among the information generated during the operation.

Implications for Ghana and West Africa

The crackdown places renewed attention on the regional impact of organised online fraud. Although victims may live thousands of kilometres from the people running the schemes, the activities can damage public confidence in digital services, expose individuals to substantial financial losses and create serious risks for people recruited or trafficked into scam centres.

For Ghana, the reported rescue of 117 trafficked individuals also underscores the importance of distinguishing between people organising criminal operations and those allegedly forced to participate in them.

Authorities and technology companies face the continuing challenge of identifying networks that can move between countries, change accounts quickly and exploit legitimate communication and payment services.

Public Advised to Remain Vigilant

Users are encouraged to be cautious about unsolicited investment offers, online relationships that quickly lead to requests for money, job opportunities requiring upfront payments and messages from people claiming to represent law enforcement agencies.

People should verify investment firms and recruiters independently, avoid sharing financial credentials and report suspicious accounts through the relevant platform. Anyone who suspects they have been defrauded should contact their financial institution and appropriate law enforcement authorities as soon as possible.

The latest operation demonstrates the scale of international cooperation required to disrupt online fraud. However, the removal of millions of accounts does not mean the threat has disappeared, and continued coordination, victim support and public awareness will remain essential.

Sources: Meta Newsroom and the US Department of Justice, October 13, 2026.

Lawyers for Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi have successfully challenged the legal validity of a GH¢15 million defamation suit filed against him by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, resulting in the High Court striking out the case.

The High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 division ruled on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, that the writ of summons filed by Mr Afenyo-Markin was defective because it failed to meet mandatory procedural requirements governing defamation actions.

The dispute arose from public exchanges between the two over reported losses of US$1.7 billion associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme in 2025. Mr Gyamfi had accused the Minority Leader of attempted extortion, allegations Mr Afenyo-Markin rejected before initiating the GH¢15 million lawsuit.

According to the legal arguments advanced by Mr Gyamfi’s lawyers, the writ did not contain sufficient particulars of the allegedly defamatory publication as required under Order 57 Rule 2 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47).

The court agreed that the requirement was mandatory and not merely a technical formality. It held that the particulars must be clearly endorsed on the writ to enable the allegedly defamatory publication to be identified.

The judge also rejected the argument that details contained in the statement of claim could remedy the defect. In distinguishing an earlier case, Owusu Domena v Amoh, the court noted that Mr Gyamfi’s lawyers had promptly challenged the writ rather than proceeding with the case without objection.

The court subsequently set aside the writ of summons and statement of claim filed on August 24, 2026, with no order as to costs.

However, the ruling does not establish whether the statements at the centre of the dispute were defamatory. Rather, it addresses the procedural validity of the lawsuit.

The decision brings the proceedings under the defective writ to an end, while leaving the substantive allegations unresolved.

Former Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Nana Akwasi Awuah, has defended his record following concerns over the auditing of the company’s accounts for the period between 2020 and 2024, insisting that he formally requested a multi-year audit in September 2024.

In a press release dated Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Mr Awuah said claims that the audit process was initiated only in 2025 did not accurately reflect the steps taken during his tenure as managing director.

His response follows a report from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee engagement with the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD), which indicated that PMMC’s books and accounts for the five-year period had not been audited and that the new management requested a financial audit in 2025.

Mr Awuah stated that on September 2, 2024, he wrote to the Auditor-General requesting a multi-year audit of PMMC’s accounts covering 2020 to 2024.

According to him, the delay in conducting the audits was not attributable to management but rather to bureaucratic challenges associated with appointing a new external auditor through the Ghana Audit Service.

He also disclosed that during his tenure, PMMC underwent a performance audit conducted by the Auditor-General in 2023, describing it as the first of its kind in approximately two decades.

The former managing director further indicated that Parliament’s Select Committee on State Enterprises had written to the Auditor-General in support of his request for the multi-year audits.

He said a team was subsequently assembled in September 2024 to commence the exercise, with the final audit reports for 2020 to 2024 completed, signed and submitted in April and June 2025, respectively.

Mr Awuah added that the reports portrayed PMMC as a struggling institution that had been turned around by the end of 2024, laying the foundation for the establishment of its successor, GOLDBOD.

His statement seeks to clarify the timeline of the audit process as scrutiny of the institution’s financial records continues.

TRIPOLI, LIBYA — October 14, 2026

At least two people have died after torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, disrupting movement across parts of the city and prompting precautionary electricity cuts in affected areas.

The heavy downpours struck on Tuesday, October 13, with local authorities and emergency responders reporting fatalities linked to the flooding. The incident has renewed concerns about the city’s ability to cope with sudden, intense rainfall.

According to reports from authorities and local media, one of the victims was an employee of Jumhouria Bank who died following an electric shock. The Tripoli branch of the Libyan Red Crescent said it recovered his body during the flooding.

Rescue teams also recovered the body of another man from a vehicle submerged in floodwater, according to local television reports.

Floodwaters disrupt transport and threaten homes

The rainfall lasted approximately two and a half hours, according to Fadel Abu Arqoub, the mayor of Central Tripoli, who described the situation as catastrophic.

Floodwater inundated roads and submerged numerous vehicles, leaving parts of the city struggling with the effects of the sudden downpour. Eyewitness accounts described extensive water accumulation across streets and other urban areas.

The state-owned electricity company said it had cut power in some locations as a precaution after rising water reached residential properties. The measure was intended to reduce risks associated with electricity in flooded areas.

Emergency response activated

The flooding has placed pressure on local services responsible for drainage, public safety and emergency assistance. Clearing accumulated rainwater and restoring access to affected roads are among the immediate priorities following the downpour.

The two confirmed deaths also highlight the dangers associated with severe urban flooding, particularly when water comes into contact with electrical infrastructure or traps people inside submerged vehicles.

Questions over urban flood preparedness

The latest incident raises questions about drainage capacity and emergency preparedness in Libya’s capital as intense rainfall overwhelms parts of the urban environment.

The scale of the disruption demonstrates how quickly heavy rain can become a public-safety emergency, affecting transport, residential areas and essential services within a short period.

Further official information would be needed to establish the full extent of the damage, the number of neighbourhoods affected and whether additional casualties or injuries were reported.

By Angel No Lie | KPDOnline| WASHINGTON, October 14, 2026 | US Politics and Media

A federal judge has extended protections allowing journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico to retain access to the White House while their legal challenge against the Trump administration continues.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, October 13, finding that the three news organisations were likely to succeed in arguing that the administration’s decision to revoke their press credentials violated constitutional protections. The order prevents the administration from enforcing the ban while the case proceeds, unless it is overturned on appeal.

Dispute began with White House press restrictions

The dispute began on September 18, when President Donald Trump announced that the three outlets would be barred from the White House, accusing them of publishing inaccurate reporting.

The affected news organisations subsequently challenged the decision in court, arguing that the restrictions amounted to retaliation for their journalism and discrimination based on their editorial viewpoints.

They also contended that the administration had violated their constitutional rights by revoking their press credentials without providing adequate notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision.

Judge questions the administration’s justification

Judge Kelly had previously intervened on September 24, temporarily restoring the journalists’ access while the lawsuit continued.

His latest ruling provides more durable protection than the earlier temporary order. The preliminary injunction is intended to remain in effect during the litigation unless a higher court intervenes or the judge issues a final decision.

The administration had defended its actions by raising concerns about reporting accuracy and national security. However, the judge found that the news organisations had presented a strong preliminary case that the ban was unlawful. The ruling does not constitute a final judgment on the entire dispute.

Wider implications for press freedom

The case has renewed debate about the relationship between government officials and journalists covering the presidency.

White House access gives reporters opportunities to question administration officials, cover official announcements and inform the public about government decisions. Restrictions on that access can therefore raise concerns about transparency and the public’s ability to receive information.

At the same time, the administration maintains that it has legitimate concerns about reporting practices and the handling of sensitive information. The legal proceedings will help determine the extent to which those concerns can justify restricting journalists’ access to government premises.

The case also highlights the importance of procedural fairness when government authorities make decisions affecting press credentials and access.

What happens next?

The lawsuit remains unresolved, and the preliminary injunction does not settle every question about journalists’ access to presidential activities. Further court proceedings could determine whether the administration’s actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments to the US Constitution.

The outcome could have implications beyond the three organisations involved, particularly for the rules governing press access and the ability of journalists to report independently on the executive branch.