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MOMO fraud: MTN Ghana to block phones of fraudsters with new technology
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The Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at MTN Ghana, Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu has revealed that MTN Ghana would block phones of fraudsters as part of technological strategies to curtail mobile money fraud in the country.
According to her, the strategy was to make fraud expensive and unattractive for them to engage in since they would have to constantly have to buy new phones for their bad practices.
“We are putting in investment in technology that helps us to filter the messages that goes to customers. Also at the industry levels, there is a technology that allows us to be able to block phones that are used for momo fraud and this will make it more expensive for scammers to continue defrauding people,” she said.
Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu was speaking in Koforidua during this year’s media stakeholder forum organised by MTN Ghana for the media in the Eastern region.
The purpose of the forum was to enable media know MTN’s activities, improvement in customer experience, and investment made in the area of the network, products and services.
The forum was also purposed to solicit for feedback from stakeholders to help the company to improve their services in the country and the region.
Mrs Asare Fiagbenu indicated that “unlike in the past where we just block the number, we have the technology to block the phones now. This is because previously, when we block the numbers, these fraudsters go and buy new numbers and register them. However we have decided to rather disable the phones they use as a measure to stop them.”
She stated that one of the major challenges facing the telecommunication company was mobile money (momo) fraud, noting that research conducted into the area has revealed a greater majority of people who fell prey to the fraud was as a result of social engineering.
“People continue to call our customers and tell them all kinds of stories while others push fake SMS to customers to convince them to take an action,” she said and warned customers to be alert and be mindful of their engagements with people they did not know and unfamiliar text messages.
She advised the to cross-check and verify every information while they ensured that money sent was for the intended recipient, adding that MTN officials would only call with the official line which was 0244300000.
She stated that the media has always been a key partner for sharing information with their stakeholders and called on them to continue to support the company to educate customers, engage and direct customers to the right sources of information.
Speaking on their corporate social responsibility, Mrs Asare Fiagbenu revealed that her outfit has made some significant contributions to education, indicating that MTN Foundation has invested 13.5 million in scholarships and the as part of its 25th Anniversary celebration cut sod for the establishment of a US$25 million dollars Ghana ICT Hub which would provide about 1000 employment to young people.
She stated the company would continue to provide more digital access and provide ICT equipment, skills, devices to enable young people to position themselves better for the future
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
