Ghana’s fight against money laundering under threat from trained personnel shortage

Ghana’s ability to stop money laundering is being seriously damaged by a lack of trained investigators and prosecutors, a new global assessment has confirmed. The 2024 Organised Crime Index notes that while parliament passed tougher rules last year, there are not enough specialists with the right skills to put them into action. Most of these experts work in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast, but their numbers are far below what the task demands.

The report points to specific weaknesses: only a handful of financial crime officers have received serious training in asset seizure, and there is no official body that certifies investigators for money laundering cases. This limits the ability of agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Court to follow the money trail and recover stolen assets. The problem touches many types of crime, from drug shipments moving through Takoradi port to online scams targeting Ghanaians abroad.

Although the government has tried to plug the gap with new regulations, the Index says the nation’s capacity remains thin. At the same time, criminals are turning to cryptocurrencies, gift cards and other digital shortcuts to hide dirty cash, while charities and cash businesses are flagged as risky fronts. Experts warn that without more investment in people and tools, Ghana may continue to lose ground in the battle against financial abuse.

For now, the authorities say they will revisit the training budget later this year. If funding follows the plan, more seats could open at the Financial Intelligence Centre and at regional police hubs. Whether that timing is enough to stay ahead of clever financial tricks remains to be seen, but the pressure for action has never been clearer.