The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), in partnership with the British High Commission, have launched an aggressive campaign to tackle the growing menace of romance fraud in Ghana.
The initiative aims to raise public awareness, encourage reporting, and strengthen law enforcement collaboration to combat this deceptive crime, which has become a significant global concern.
Romance fraud, commonly referred to as “Sakawa” in Ghana, has seen a sharp rise in recent years, with fraudsters using sophisticated tactics to deceive and manipulate victims.
These scammers exploit digital platforms, particularly dating and social media sites, to lure victims into fake romantic relationships, eventually extorting money, valuables, and sensitive personal information.
The consequences extend beyond financial loss, causing severe emotional and psychological distress for victims, while also damaging Ghana’s international reputation.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Anthony Leo Siamah, Deputy Director of Legal and Prosecutions at EOCO, emphasized the urgent need to combat this rising cyber-enabled crime.
He noted that investigations have revealed that these fraudsters operate as both individual criminals and organized syndicates, making detection and prosecution challenging.
The perpetrators often face charges including defrauding by false pretenses, forgery, identity theft, money laundering, cybercrime, conspiracy, and even extradition.
Law enforcement agencies rely on Ghana’s Criminal Code (Act 29), the Electronic Transactions Act, the Cybercrime Act, and the Cybersecurity Act to prosecute offenders and recover illicit proceeds.
To counteract this growing threat, EOCO and the NCA have intensified efforts through cross-border intelligence sharing, enhanced investigations, and public education campaigns.
This year, a critical Fraud Reporting Campaign will be rolled out, aiming to educate the public on the dangers of fraud and encourage reporting of suspicious activities.
Mr. Dominic Cummis, International Liaison Officer of the UK’s National Crime Agency, highlighted that fraud now accounts for over 40% of crimes in England and Wales, making it a top priority for the UK government.
He stressed that the nature of romance fraud makes it particularly difficult to combat, as most of the activities take place online, allowing fraudsters to operate across international borders with relative anonymity.
The NCA, he said, is committed to working closely with EOCO to investigate and dismantle these fraud networks.
As part of the campaign, a multi-media initiative will be launched in March to introduce the “Report Sakawa” hotline – 0547-419-419 – and a toll-free number – 0800-910-910.
The campaign will feature billboards, roadside posters, and digital outreach through social media platforms, using bold lettering and bright colors to capture public attention.
The goal is to make reporting fraudsters easier and more accessible to Ghanaians.
The fraud reporting campaign follows previous successful collaborations between EOCO and the NCA, including efforts to combat money laundering and cyber-enabled financial crimes.
The NCA was also a major sponsor of EOCO’s maiden Nationwide Essay Competition, which engaged Senior, Junior, and Upper Primary School students in discussions on economic and organized crime.
Through intensified investigations, public education, and stronger international cooperation, EOCO and the NCA are determined to curb romance fraud and other forms of financial crime in Ghana.
The agencies encourage all Ghanaians to be vigilant and report fraudulent activities to law enforcement authorities.
