COP Nathan Kofi Boakye (middle), ACP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Dankwah and other resource persons in a group photograph with participants
Government institutions, organizations and corporate entities have been urged to take cyber crime serious in the country.
The Deputy Director General in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Dankwah, has noted that cyber threat is becoming serious and growing while cyber intrusions have become more commonplace, more dangerous and more sophisticated.
She said there is the need for all and sundry to undertake transformation to address the pervasive and evolving cyber threat.
ACP Tiwaa Addo Dankwah made the observation at the opening ceremony of a one-week training course on Financial Crime Investigation and Money Laundering for 30 police officers in Accra.
The course is intended to build the capacity of investigators in the Financial Forensic Unit of the Service and financial crime investigators selected from the other regions.
Specialized training will be offered in subjects such as financial crime investigations, money laundering, freezing, seizing and confiscation of assets, ethics and integrity as well as collaboration and international cooperation.
The deputy director of CID said capacity building is one of the most important initiatives any serious institution or business entity must embark upon, if it wants to achieve its objectives and remain in business.
ACP Tiwaa Addo Dankwah underscored, “It helps the institution to revise its methods, tactics and strategies in providing services to its clients and also rebrand itself for the years ahead.”
She averred that the CID would continue to demonstrate its commitment and determination to make these crimes very risky and unprofitable for the perpetrators.
“Renowned resource persons have been invited to impart their knowledge on varied topical issues to participants on techniques of financial crime and money laundering investigations. We cannot continue to use old methods and strategies to combat new emerging crimes,” she stressed.
The Director General in-charge of Research and Planning, COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, said in an address that financial crime and money laundering are a threat to financial integrity and stability of countries and the global economy.
“Financial crime takes several forms, including financial fraud, cyber fraud, bribery and corruption, market abuse…………embezzlement, terrorist financing and money laundering among others.”
He said the proceeds of such crimes are used to finance other criminal activities like terrorism, illicit drug dealing and human trafficking.
COP Kofi Boakye said what is more worrying is that most often, there are insiders – corrupt government officials, business leaders and employees – who collude with criminals to commit financial crimes and money laundering.
He indicated that government and other international agencies across the world have made the fight against financial crime and money laundering a priority, and Ghana is no exception.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey