The MP in a statement she made on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, highlighted the growing menace of online fraud and its devastating impact on individuals and society.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings lament­ed encountering cybercriminals, who have created numerous fake accounts impersonating her on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp.

She said despite having verified the accounts, the fraudulent activities persisted, affecting her and others, and causing severe financial and reputational harm to unsuspecting victims.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings called for harsher legislation, and en­hanced public education to tackle cyber threats.

She expressed concern about the delays in response from social media platforms to reports of fake accounts, and the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, who exploit technological gaps and evade prosecution.

The MP criticised the discon­nect between the current judicial system and the fluid nature of cybercrime.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings cited that overwhelming evidence against cybercriminals, failed to result in justice.

She explained that this has created a sense of impunity among offenders, who continued to exploit victims psychologically and financially.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings advo­cated enhanced collaboration be­tween law enforcement agencies such as the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, and the Bureau of National Com­munications under the National Security Ministry.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stressed the importance of interagency cooperation, intelligence sharing, and the use of advanced technol­ogy to identify and apprehend cybercriminals.

Touching on examples of organised crimes in Ghana, including high-profile kidnappings and drug trafficking, the MP un­derscored the need to address the direct link between cybercrime and other criminal activities.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings proposed the establishment of specialised cybercrime courts, to handle complex digital cases, which would expedite trials and provide thorough adjudication, while also serving as a deterrent to criminals.

She recommended the acqui­sition of advanced surveillance tools, such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, to enhance the investi­gative capabilities of law enforce­ment agencies.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings acknowledged concerns about potential abuse of such technol­ogy, and called for strict regula­tions and oversight to safeguard citizens’ privacy and civil liberties.

The MP also urged Parliament to consider enacting legislation to compel social media companies to take stronger action against crimi­nal activities on their platforms.

Additionally, she stressed the need for public education to dis­courage financial transactions via social media and to raise aware­ness about online safety.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings noted that a comprehensive approach, combining legal reforms, ad­vanced technology, and public awareness, was essential to com­bat cybercrime effectively.

She urged the government to prioritise these measures to pro­tect citizens and maintain public trust in digital platforms.