Anti-fraud expert Isaac Obour has warned that Ghana risks losing the credibility of its educational and professional certifications if the growing association with fraud is not urgently addressed.
Speaking on Yɛn Nsempa on Onua FM, he stressed that the fraud stigma directly affects ordinary citizens, particularly young people seeking opportunities abroad.
“It disturbs citizens and the youth in the country, especially in situations where they want to travel for school. Currently, Ghanaian certification has high value, but if we do not erase this stain of fraud, it will get to a point where submitting our certification for any process will be of no value,” he cautioned.
Mr. Obour also pointed to the role of social media in worsening the situation, criticizing the culture of flaunting wealth online.
“Some Ghanaians who have acquired wealth tend to flaunt it on social media. But we must remember that the internet was introduced to us by the white man, who controls the algorithms and has access to intel. Why would you wake up and display big cars on the internet? They begin to mark you and follow you,” he said.
He explained that although fraud investigations are often complex, individuals who openly showcase lavish lifestyles online make it easier for international agencies to track and target them.
“Investigations are difficult, but if you expose yourself, you make it easy for them to target you,” he noted.
Citing INTERPOL data, Mr. Obour revealed that Ghana ranks 4th in Africa for cybercrime. He highlighted online scams, business email compromise, and digital sextortion as major threats flagged in recent reports.
He urged Ghanaians to act responsibly both online and offline, warning that failure to confront the fraud stigma could undermine future opportunities for innocent citizens.
By Lois Dogbe
