Cybercriminals hijacked Ghanaian President John Mahama’s verified X account for 48 hours and used it to promote a fake cryptocurrency scheme. His spokesperson, Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed the breach on Tuesday. This incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting influential figures in Africa.
Hackers Exploit the President’s Account for Fraudulent Promotions
Hackers took control of Mahama’s account on Saturday and immediately started posting false endorsements for “Solanafrica.” They falsely claimed the initiative was led by Mahama and aimed to make financial transactions across Africa free using the Solana blockchain. The hackers encouraged users to invest, presenting the scheme as a revolutionary financial solution. President Mahama’s team detected the suspicious activity on Sunday and quickly deleted the fraudulent posts. Despite their efforts, the compromised account continued to share crypto-related content, including hints about launching a new memecoin.
President’s Team Restores Control
President Mahama’s team worked with X’s support staff to regain access. They successfully restored the account and eliminated all misleading content. Ofosu urged the public to ignore any suspicious cryptocurrency-related posts from Mahama’s account. The president later thanked X’s security team and supporters who assisted in resolving the issue.
Crypto Scams Target High-Profile Africans
Cybercriminals have repeatedly hijacked accounts of prominent African figures to promote fraudulent crypto investments. In July 2023, hackers took control of South African opposition leader Julius Malema’s X account and used it to advertise a fake token project. In 2022, scammers compromised Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu’s account and flooded his timeline with deceptive crypto giveaways. These incidents reflect an increasing trend of cybercriminals exploiting digital assets for fraudulent activities.
Cybersecurity Experts Call for Stronger Protection Measures
Cybersecurity experts emphasize that high-profile individuals must improve their online security. Abubakar Issaka, an expert at Ghana’s Centre for Cyberwatch and Data Protection, warned that two-factor authentication alone no longer provides sufficient protection. He advised government officials and public figures to monitor login activities, limit third-party app access, and assign dedicated security teams to oversee their accounts. He also stressed the importance of 24/7 account surveillance to detect and prevent suspicious activity before hackers gain full control.
Scammers Exploit Solana’s Popularity in Africa
Hackers have increasingly exploited Solana’s name to deceive investors in Africa. The platform’s lower transaction fees, compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum, have attracted more users. Fraudsters capitalize on this trend by launching fake projects and impersonating influential figures to build credibility. Mahama’s team confirmed that authorities have taken steps to prevent further misuse of his account.
Conclusion
The hacking of President Mahama’s X account underscores the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures. High-profile individuals must implement advanced security protocols to prevent future breaches. Authorities should also increase regulatory oversight of cryptocurrency activities to protect users from fraudulent schemes.
