The Head of the Intelligence Unit at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Patrick Yankey, has called for stronger institutional collaboration to combat cybercrime in Ghana.
Mr Yankey said sustained collaboration among institutions had helped EOCO tackle complex criminal networks and strengthen the fight against economic and organised crime.
He made the remarks at the African Fraud Stakeholders Dialogue (AFSD) 2026 in Accra, held under the theme, “Mobilising Collective Action Against Fraud.”
The Member of Parliament for Suame and Lead Counsel for the Minority Caucus in Parliament, John Darko, also participated in the discussions, emphasising the need for robust legal frameworks to address cybercrime in the country.
The Founder of the Anti-Fraud Initiative Ghana (AFIG), Isaac Obour, called for stronger cooperation among governments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector to combat the growing threat of financial fraud across Africa.
According to Mr Obour, the increasing sophistication of financial crimes and digital scams is causing significant financial losses, undermining economic development and affecting the livelihoods of individuals and businesses.
He said fraud had evolved from isolated criminal incidents into a systemic challenge requiring coordinated and sustained intervention.
Mr Obour stressed the need for countries to give greater and more specialised attention to fraud prevention, warning that failure to act decisively could have long-term consequences for economic stability and development.
He called for increased investment in fraud prevention, intelligence sharing, public education and capacity building to strengthen Africa’s response to economic crime.
Mr Obour’s advocacy against fraud is also reflected in the establishment of AFIG, an organisation focused on fraud prevention, anti-corruption, victim support, public awareness and capacity building.
He recounted his decision to leave a lucrative career in the United States and return to Ghana to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing financial crime and promoting greater integrity in society.
He said AFIG was established to provide a stronger platform for stakeholders to coordinate their efforts in the fight against fraud.
The organisation has since participated in international engagements on financial and organised crime.
Mr Obour argued that no single institution could effectively tackle the increasingly sophisticated nature of fraud on its own.
He therefore called for stronger partnerships among law enforcement agencies, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, civil society organisations and the public.
He also emphasised the importance of seamless intelligence sharing and sustained investment in preventive measures, including public education and capacity building.
According to AFIG, the organisation was invited in March 2026 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and INTERPOL to participate in the closing plenary of the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna, Austria.
The organisation also said Mr Obour participated in a July 2026 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) panel discussion on tools for developing global responses to organised fraud.
The African Fraud Stakeholders Dialogue brought together representatives from state institutions, regulators, Parliament, the financial sector, civil society and other sectors to discuss emerging fraud threats and possible solutions.
Representatives from the Attorney General’s Department and the Cybersecurity Authority also shared perspectives on regulatory enforcement and the growing threat of digital crime.
The Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Post addressed emerging threats within the postal and logistics sector, including postal fraud and other vulnerabilities, while outlining measures being considered to strengthen security.
The Head of Internal Control at Development Bank Ghana provided insights into protecting institutional credit and financial transactions against fraudulent activities.
The discussions highlighted the need for a coordinated approach involving both public and private institutions.
The organisers said AFSD 2026 was intended to provide a platform for stakeholders to move beyond discussions and develop practical partnerships to address fraud across sectors.
The dialogue ended with a call for African countries and institutions to strengthen cooperation in preventing financial crime and protecting resources needed for economic growth and development.
For AFIG, the goal is to build a more coordinated anti-fraud movement in which prevention, intelligence sharing, victim support and enforcement become shared responsibilities across society.
By 1960news.com
