Ghana is grappling with a growing wave of mobile phone thefts that experts say has escalated into a public safety and digital security crisis.
With over 40.4 million mobile subscriptions nationwide according to data from the National Communications Authority the smartphone has become a high-value target, exposing both personal privacy and livelihoods to predatory criminal networks.
Beyond the devices themselves, victims are reporting deeper trauma. Survivors describe losing not just contacts and messages, but critical data tied to work, education, finances, and even patient care.
A senior emergency physician detailed how she was robbed while coordinating an ambulance transfer, forcing her to reroute critical care instructions through borrowed phones. In tertiary institutions, multiple students have suffered physical assaults on campus footpaths, with some requiring medical attention after resisting theft attempts.
Yet, despite the sharp rise in incidents, public confidence in law enforcement remains fragile. Victims consistently report long delays, lack of feedback, and most concerning requests to undertake personal tracking missions.
One young professional recounted how she tracked her stolen iPhone’s live location for 72 hours without police support, eventually abandoning the case after being warned against confronting suspects alone.
Historical data reveals that mobile theft in Ghana is not a new phenomenon. Its roots stretch back to the 1990s, when the introduction of SIM-card portability unlocked a black market for preloaded phones.
By 2006, international media like the BBC had chronicled the scope of thefts across urban centres. What has changed is the value of the devices both as communication tools and as carriers of digital identities, financial apps, and health records.
Authorities are now under growing pressure to act. Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George recently confirmed that government remains committed to deploying a Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR) a centralized blacklist system that uses IMEI numbers to render stolen phones inoperable.
The initiative, long championed by former minister Ursula Owusu, is projected to cost around US$4 million and is inspired by successful deployments in India and the UAE.
Cybersecurity analysts argue that the CEIR could serve as a force multiplier for Ghana’s police by removing the economic incentive behind mobile theft. Without the ability to resell or reactivate stolen devices, criminals may find the risk no longer worth the reward.
But without urgent improvements in public trust, police response times, and citizen protection, such technology may struggle to reach its full deterrent potential.
Until then, for many Ghanaians, the threat of mobile theft remains a daily risk with real consequences not just for connectivity, but for personal security, mental health, and public confidence in the justice system.
