By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
A member of Ghana’s Parliament, Kwame Frimpong, has been detained in the Netherlands over an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on alleged fraud amounting to $32 million.
The lawmaker representing Akyem North Constituency was detained by the authorities in the Netherlands in connection with an FBI investigation relating to wire fraud, romance scam, and money laundering estimated at $32 million. The US Government last month recorded huge success in its crackdown against organized wire fraudsters operating within and outside the US, leading to convictions and arrests of many Nigerians and Ghanaians involved in romance scams and wire fraud committed on US soil against American citizens and businesses, amounting to about $215 million.
However, a statement issued by the Clerk of the Parliament of Ghana, Mr. Ebenezer Djietror, said the Parliament is aware of the situation, but is still trying to establish the cause of the arrest and detention. The statement further said that more explanations would be offered when more information has been provided on the detention.
Over a year ago, a serving local government executive chairman in Nigeria was also arrested and detained in the US for wire fraud and romance scam. He has since vacated his seat and is serving his jail term in the US.
Increasingly, Nigeria and Ghana are gaining a reputation as countries of concern for wire fraud and romance scams.
