A private legal practitioner, Lawyer Kyei Badu, has cautioned Ghanaians against openly displaying their wealth on social media, stressing that while the act is not illegal, it poses significant security risks. Speaking on Focus FM’s Teknokrat Show with host Sika Audrey Dzifa, he noted that such displays make individuals prime targets for criminal activities including robbery, kidnapping, and ransom demands.
“It may bring security challenges to the person himself. He becomes a target of complicated offences, kidnapping and ransom, where your children become targets of criminals,” he warned.
His comments come in the wake of recent public discussions involving Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). Addressing the matter, Lawyer Badu explained that EOCO has the legal mandate to seize assets if they suspect such wealth to be proceeds of crime.
“When they suspect that a crime is committed, the act also mandates them to cease the proceeds of crime,” he clarified. He, however, emphasized that Ghana’s laws do not prohibit flaunting wealth, as long as it does not amount to an offence.
He pointed to Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees individual liberty, allowing people to engage in such acts for legitimate purposes. According to him, some individuals flaunt their wealth for strategic reasons such as branding, attracting contracts, securing investments, or building social media influence.
“People have a reason for flaunting their wealth on social media. Some people do so because of branding… they want to attract big investments, advertisements, and followers,” he explained.
Lawyer Kyei Badu concluded by urging the public to strike a balance between showcasing success and safeguarding their personal safety.