By Adnan Adams Mohammed
GCB Bank PLC and the Ghana Police Service have pledged a joint front to combat financial crime and digital fraud as the rapid growth of online banking reshapes security threats across the country.
The commitment was established during a high-level courtesy visit by GCB Bank’s executive committee, led by Managing Director Farihan Alhassan, to the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
The discussions centered on strengthening cybersecurity architecture, protecting customers from remote financial scams, and maintaining physical security across GCB’s nationwide branch network.
Highlighting the shift in how financial crimes are committed, Mr. Alhassan noted that bad actors are increasingly circumventing traditional banking security to target individuals directly through mobile and digital platforms.
“Security has always been fundamental to banking, but what that means today is changing rapidly,” Mr. Alhassan stated during the meeting. “We still need to protect our branches, our people, and our customers physically, but we are also operating in an environment where fraudsters can reach a customer through a phone call, a message, or an online platform from virtually anywhere.”
He added that addressing these remote threats requires synchronized efforts among financial institutions, law enforcement, and the public.
“This requires vigilance from banks, law enforcement, and customers themselves,” Mr. Alhassan explained. “At GCB, we continue to invest significantly in the systems, people, and customer education needed to protect our digital environment, but technology alone cannot address the problem.”
To counter these emerging threats, GCB Bank operates a 24-hour Security Operations Centre alongside dedicated fraud monitoring systems and public awareness campaigns designed to help customers recognize social engineering tactics.
Welcoming the delegation, Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno reaffirmed the Police Service’s commitment to protecting lives and property while adapting its capabilities to track down digital syndicates.
“The Ghana Police Service remains committed to building its capacity against both traditional and emerging forms of crime,” Mr. Yohuno noted, emphasizing that information sharing between banks and law enforcement is vital to dismantling online fraud networks.
Both institutions agreed to maintain structured engagements focused on intelligence sharing, joint cybersecurity campaigns, and operational security to safeguard public confidence in Ghana’s financial system.
