Strong Political Will Crucial in Tackling Fraud – expert

A certified US-based Ghanaian fraud examiner, Isaac Obour, has revealed that fraud has evolved beyond financial crime into a systemic threat to economic security, digital trust, and social stability.
Mr Obour, who is also the President of Anti-Fraud Initiative Ghana (AFIG), said, “As countries deepen digital transformation through mobile money, e-commerce, and financial inclusion, fraudsters are exploiting gaps in coordination and enforcement at an alarming pace.”
The fraud examiner revealed this at the Global Fraud Summit, convened by INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna.
The summit brought together ministers of state, law enforcement leaders and senior-level executives. Ghana’s Isaac Obour, a respected voice on financial crime prevention in Africa and president of Anti-Fraud Initiative Ghana (AFIG), delivered a compelling call for urgent global action against fraud.
Speaking on the need for strong political will to fight fraud, Mr Obour said, “Fragmented institutional responses where banks, telecom operators, regulators, and law enforcement agencies operate separately are no longer adequate in addressing the complexity and speed of modern fraud schemes.” ”.
He proposed the establishment of a unified national fraud reporting centre or hotline as a practical and scalable solution.
“Such a platform would allow victims to report fraud through a single channel, triggering immediate and coordinated action across law enforcement, banks, telecom providers, fintech companies, and civil society organisations. “This approach ensures that suspicious transactions can be quickly identified and frozen by financial institutions, fraudulent communication channels can be disrupted by telcos and platforms, investigations can begin without delay by law enforcement and victims receive timely guidance and support,” he added.
The CEO of AFIG said, “Most importantly, it restores confidence and trust in financial systems, an essential ingredient for sustaining the gains made by emerging economies in digital inclusion, mobile money adoption, e-commerce growth, and accessible banking services.”
“If citizens lose trust in digital financial systems due to fraud, we risk reversing years of progress in financial inclusion across Africa and other developing regions. Protecting consumers is therefore not just a regulatory obligation; it is a development necessity,” he explained.
Mr Obour stressed that restoring public trust in financial systems is critical to safeguarding the gains made by emerging economies in digital inclusion and innovation.
“Without trust,” he warned, “progress in mobile money adoption, e-commerce expansion, and accessible banking could be reversed. ”.
In highlighting progress at the national level, he commended the efforts of Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for its work in recovering fraud-related virtual assets.
He pointed to ongoing efforts to refund more than $15 million in cryptocurrency-related losses to victims as a strong indication that effective enforcement and restitution are achievable.
Observers at the Summit noted that Mr Obour’s insights resonated strongly with global participants, drawing commendation for bringing a practical, victim-centred perspective grounded in the realities of rapidly digitising economies.
His closing message was clear and succinct: the fight against fraud requires coordination, compassion, and commitment. Governments, private sector actors, and civil society must move beyond isolated efforts to build integrated systems that are preventive as well as responsive.
As the global community continues to grapple with the rising threat of fraud, Mr Obour’s call offers a clear direction: one report, one system, and one coordinated response, a model that could redefine how nations protect citizens and secure the future of their digital economies.
By Timothy Antwi-Otoo | 3news.com | Ghana