Shortage of trained investigators and prosecutors hampers Ghana’s fight against money laundering – Report

Ghana is struggling to effectively tackle money laundering, according to a report by the Global Organised Crime Index. The report highlights a shortage of trained investigators and prosecutors as a key issue in the country's efforts to enforce anti-money laundering (AML) laws. Despite government initiatives to bolster legislation, the report states that "Ghana faces challenges with low numbers of investigators and prosecutors trained in AML, as well as the absence of certified financial crime investigators specialized in asset forfeiture."

Furthermore, the report reveals that money laundering in Ghana is connected to various criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, environmental crimes, fraud, corruption, and romance scams. The increasing use of digital currencies like bitcoin, gift cards, and other digital exchanges for laundering illicit funds is also a concern.

The report further identifies non-profit organizations and cash-based operations as businesses and professions that could be at risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. The findings suggest that while Ghana has made efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering laws, the lack of specialist investigative and prosecutorial capacity remains a significant challenge.

The report was partially funded by a grant from the United States Department of State, noting that the opinions and findings expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the stance of the Department of State.