A member of the governing National Democratic Congress communications team, Anthony Nukpenu, has criticised what he describes as the disproportionate attention given to those involved in online romance scams, commonly known in Ghana as “sakawa,” instead of pursuing corrupt public officials.
Speaking on the morning show of Adom FM on Wednesday, June 17, Nukpenu argued that Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts should prioritise state officials whose actions have caused significant harm to the country’s development. According to him, while cybercrime and romance scams remain illegal and should not be condoned, the scale of damage caused by corruption within public institutions is far greater.
“If I were in charge, I would rather focus my attention on corrupt officials who are destroying the nation,” he stated during the discussion.
Nukpenu maintained that public office holders who abuse their positions and engage in corrupt practices have, over the years, contributed to economic setbacks and weakened public confidence in governance.
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His remarks come amid ongoing public debate about how law enforcement agencies allocate resources in tackling crime and corruption. Some people have agreed with him, that high-level corruption deserves greater scrutiny, while others insist that all forms of criminal activity, including online fraud, must be addressed equally under the law.
Ghanaian authorities have intensified efforts in recent years to combat cybercrime and financial fraud, while anti-corruption advocates continue to call for stronger action against public officials implicated in corruption-related offences.
Nukpenu’s comments add to the broader national conversation about accountability, law enforcement priorities and the need for effective measures to tackle corruption at all levels of society.