EOCO Boss unveils new strategies to combat rising fraud in the Public Sector

At a recent seminar by the Conference of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Ghana Chapter focused on the ever-growing challenge of fraud within the public sector by, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah(Mrs), the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), brought attention to the significant complexities that modern fraud presents. Her insights underscored the importance of both awareness and action in combating financial crimes that threaten not just Ghana’s financial systems but the broader societal trust in public institutions.

Speaking to a room of public sector leaders, COP Maame Yaa noted the increasing sophistication of fraudulent activities, with new schemes appearing regularly. “We are facing fraud schemes that are constantly evolving,” she explained. “Each day, we see criminals adapting to and even anticipating the systems we put in place to stop them. This makes our job not only reactive but also one of constant innovation.”

One of the core challenges EOCO faces, she outlined, is the limited resources available for effective prevention. With budget constraints often hampering operations, the need for additional support and investment is clear. “Preventing and detecting fraud requires considerable resources—technology, skilled personnel, training—and unfortunately, our budgets don’t always allow us the flexibility we need,” she pointed out. “It’s a significant hurdle, and one we must work to overcome with strategic partnerships and support.”

The Senior Police Officer also highlighted the risk of insider threats, a vulnerability that organizations rarely expect but one that can have profound impacts when it occurs. “Insider threats are particularly challenging because we are talking about people within the system—our own employees or trusted partners—who know exactly where the vulnerabilities are,” she said. “These individuals have access and insight that external actors simply do not.”

In an increasingly globalized world, cross-border fraud schemes have also become a serious concern, with criminals exploiting regulatory gaps between nations to evade detection. “Globalization, while beneficial in many ways, has opened up new avenues for financial crime,” Addo-Danquah explained. “Fraudsters can operate from virtually anywhere in the world, making it crucial for us to collaborate with international agencies to track and prevent cross-border fraud.”

According to her, another obstacle is balancing security measures with user experience, especially as citizens expect more accessible and seamless services. “We want to protect our systems, but we also want to ensure that the user experience is not compromised. It’s a delicate balance,” she said, noting that achieving this balance often requires advanced technology and continual system refinement.

Lack of employee awareness remains a concern, too. COP Maame Yaa emphasized the need for constant staff training as a way to close knowledge gaps that fraudsters could exploit. “Our staff members are our first line of defense, yet many lack the awareness to recognize and respond to potential fraud,” she stated. “Training and continuous education are critical to empowering our employees to safeguard against fraud, even unintentionally.”