Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama's official X account was compromised by cryptocurrency scammers for 48 hours, promoting a fraudulent project called 'Solanafrica'. The hackers used the account to encourage Mahama's followers to invest in the fake scheme, claiming it was led by the President to make payments across Africa free using the Solana blockchain.

The breach began on Saturday, but it wasn't until Sunday that suspicious posts started appearing on the account. The hackers posted messages falsely endorsing the "Solanafrica" project, presenting it as a revolutionary step toward transforming financial transactions across the continent. Despite the swift deletion of the fraudulent posts by Mahama's team, the account continued to share crypto-related content, including teasers about launching a new memecoin.

Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed the breach, stating that "the President's X account was compromised, and we have taken action to regain control." The account has since been fully restored, and the public has been warned to disregard any suspicious cryptocurrency-related posts from the handle. President Mahama also confirmed the recovery of his account in a tweet, thanking his team and the X support team for their assistance.

This incident adds to a growing list of high-profile hacks linked to crypto fraud on the African continent. In July 2023, South African opposition leader Julius Malema's X account was similarly hijacked to promote a fake token. In 2022, Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu faced a similar breach, with his timeline filled with bogus cryptocurrency giveaways. Cybersecurity professionals are urging public figures and government officials to reinforce their digital defenses.

Abubakar Issaka, a cybersecurity expert at Ghana's Centre for Cyberwatch and Data Protection, warned that "prominent personalities, especially those in government, need to implement stringent backend security checks." He emphasized that two-factor authentication alone is no longer sufficient, and that public figures must monitor log-in activities, limit third-party app access, and assign a dedicated team to ensure around-the-clock surveillance of their digital platforms.

Solana, the cryptocurrency exploited in the scam, has seen increasing adoption in Africa due to its lower transaction fees compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, this popularity has also made it a target for scammers aiming to exploit its credibility. The incident highlights the need for public figures and government officials to prioritize cybersecurity and protect their digital platforms from exploitation.

In the aftermath of the breach, authorities have taken further steps to prevent any future misuse of the President's account. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in the digital age, particularly for high-profile individuals and government officials who are increasingly targeted by scammers and hackers.