The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has commended the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for its critical support in an international undercover investigation that led to the rescue of four children and the arrest of suspects involved in online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The commendation was given during a working visit by INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children Unit, where Criminal Intelligence Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Madawaki, praised Ghana’s growing contribution to global efforts against transnational crimes.
He described Ghana as a key partner in INTERPOL’s operations across Africa, noting that effective cooperation between institutions remains essential in combating online child exploitation networks.
According to him, data sharing played a decisive role in the success of the recent operation.
“The backbone of any police investigation is data.
Fighting crime is not the responsibility of one agency alone.
It requires collaboration among stakeholders at both national and international levels,” Mr. Madawaki said.
He further expressed appreciation to the NHIA for its swift response to intelligence requests that contributed to the outcome of the operation, describing the rescue of the four victims as a significant achievement.
Also speaking, Detective Frank Kwarteng of INTERPOL, Accra said the visit formed part of stakeholder engagements aimed at strengthening coordination and improving institutional response to investigative requests.
He explained that NHIA was selected due to its central role in a case that involved international cooperation on child protection.
INTERPOL Accra’s Point of Contact for Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), Mr. Joshua Nartey, disclosed that the investigation began in Australia following the arrest of a suspect linked to the circulation of child sexual abuse materials.
He noted that investigators later uncovered links to individuals in Ghana and discovered that perpetrators had shared an image of a child’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card in attempts to validate the identity of victims to buyers.
According to him, INTERPOL subsequently sought assistance from the NHIA, which provided critical data that helped identify the child, locate guardians in the Ashanti Region, and trace the child’s school through NHIS renewal records—significantly aiding the rescue operation and arrests.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the NHIA Chief Executive, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, the Deputy Chief Executive for Operations, Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children.
He said the NHIA remains committed to lawful and timely collaboration with security agencies in the fight against child exploitation and abuse.
Dr. Djokoto also highlighted ongoing reforms within the Authority, including the establishment of a Gender Desk to enhance prevention, detection, and response mechanisms related to abuse.
He added that NHIA is strengthening data integration with social welfare systems to improve identification and protection of vulnerable persons, noting that socio-economic challenges often increase exposure to exploitation.
He assured INTERPOL of continued cooperation, stating that the Authority will remain proactive and responsive in supporting investigations aimed at safeguarding children and strengthening international security efforts.
