Losing a phone in Ghana is not just losing a gadget. It is your Mobile Money wallet, your WhatsApp, your banking app, your photos and the numbers of everyone you know. The first hour matters most, because that is when a thief is most likely to try to use it.
Here is what to do, in order. Use a friend’s phone or a computer if you need to.
1. Protect your money first
Call your mobile money provider’s customer care from another phone and ask them to block your wallet. Do the same with your bank if you have a banking app on the phone. Money is the one thing you cannot get back by buying a new phone.
2. Block your SIM and get a replacement
Ask your network to block the SIM so nobody can use your number to receive codes or reset your accounts. Then visit a service centre with your Ghana Card to get a replacement SIM with the same number. Because SIMs in Ghana are registered to your Ghana Card, bring it with you.
3. Try to locate the phone
Android
Go to google.com/android/find on any browser and sign in with the Google account on the lost phone. Google’s Find Hub (previously called Find My Device) can show the phone on a map, make it ring even if it is on silent, lock it with a message, or erase it. It works best if the phone is switched on, connected to the internet and had location turned on.
iPhone
Go to icloud.com/find or use the Find My app on another Apple device. You can play a sound, turn on Lost Mode (which locks the phone and shows a message with a number to call), or erase it.
4. Lock or erase the phone
If there is little chance of getting the phone back, erase it remotely. You will lose what was on it that was not backed up, but a thief will not get your photos, chats or saved passwords. On both Android and iPhone, an erased phone stays locked to your account, which makes it much less useful to a thief.
5. Secure your accounts
- WhatsApp: once you have your replacement SIM, install WhatsApp on another phone and verify your number. This logs the old phone out.
- Email and social media: change your passwords, starting with the email account linked to everything else, and sign out of other devices.
- Banking and MoMo PINs: change them once your wallet is restored.
- Tell your contacts not to respond to money requests from your number for now.
6. Report it
Report the theft at a police station and ask for a written extract or report number. Your network, bank or insurance company may ask for it. Note the phone’s IMEI number in the report if you have it.
Do this today, before you ever lose a phone
- Find your IMEI: dial *#06# and write down the number that appears. It is also on the box.
- Turn on Find My (iPhone) or confirm Find Hub is on (Android, in your Google settings).
- Set a screen lock with a PIN or fingerprint.
- Turn on automatic backups for photos and WhatsApp.
- Add a MoMo recovery number so you can reset your PIN without a queue.
- Write down your provider’s customer care number somewhere other than your phone.
This guide was checked in October 2026. Menus and services change, so if something looks different on your phone, check with your provider.
Common questions
Can someone use my MoMo if they have my phone?
They still need your PIN, which is why a strong, secret PIN and a screen lock matter. Block your wallet quickly anyway, especially if your PIN is easy to guess.
Should I erase the phone straight away?
If you think you can recover it, try locating and locking it first. If it is clearly gone, erase it to protect your data. An erased phone can usually still be found on the map if it reconnects, depending on the device.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your network can issue a replacement SIM with the same number. Bring your Ghana Card to the service centre.
Does insurance cover a stolen phone?
Only if you have a policy that includes theft. Check your policy, and get a police report, which most insurers ask for.
