Stakeholders call for stronger collaboration to fight fraud
Stakeholders in Ghana’s anti-fraud fight have called for stronger collaboration among businesses, law enforcement agencies, regulators and the public to disrupt increasingly sophisticated fraud networks and protect citizens.
The call was made at the maiden Anti-Fraud Stakeholders Dialogue held in Accra yesterday under the theme: ‘Mobilising Collective Action against Fraud.’
The dialogue brought together key players to examine practical measures for strengthening the national response to fraud.
It highlighted growing concerns over fraudsters exploiting digital platforms, mobile money, online payment systems, employment opportunities and trusted corporate names to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
The Head of Global Compliance at QNET, Naana Quartey, said stronger collaboration between businesses and law enforcement agencies was necessary to close information gaps that enabled fraud networks to operate with increasing sophistication.
She said criminals continued to misuse the QNET name to promote false job offers, deceptive recruitment schemes and fraudulent travel arrangements, often leaving legitimate businesses to deal with the consequences.
Ms Quartey urged investigators to look beyond the corporate names being misused and focus on identifying the individuals making false promises, collecting money from victims and controlling the criminal networks behind such activities.
She said information held separately by businesses, the police, immigration authorities and victims could become powerful intelligence when shared through trusted channels, enabling investigators to identify patterns and act before criminals moved victims or money across borders.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) reinforced the call, with its Head of Intelligence Unit, Patrick Yankey, warning that fragmented efforts among state institutions were creating gaps increasingly exploited by organised fraud networks.
Mr Yankey said criminals were leveraging digital banking, mobile money and online payment systems to operate across jurisdictions, making isolated investigations increasingly ineffective in disrupting their activities.
He called for intelligence-sharing, pooled resources, joint investigative teams and coordinated asset recovery, challenging stakeholders to move beyond declarations of cooperation towards practical joint operations and secure mechanisms for sharing critical intelligence.
Combating fraud is a collective national responsibility requiring Parliament, government agencies, law enforcement bodies, businesses, financial institutions and citizens to work together, according to the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, whose address was presented by the Assin North Member of Parliament, Mr John Darko.
He said Parliament must ensure that laws and oversight mechanisms kept pace with emerging forms of digital fraud, including identity theft, digital impersonation and the misuse of online platforms.
He also urged financial institutions, telecommunications companies and technology providers to strengthen monitoring and verification systems, while intensifying public education to help citizens identify suspicious messages, verify investment opportunities and report fraud.
The stakeholders agreed that sustained collaboration, intelligence-sharing, public education and coordinated enforcement were essential to building stronger systems capable of protecting citizens and disrupting fraud networks.
BY NELLY QUARCOOPOOME
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