A Ghanaian family has publicly cut ties with one of its members, Maxwell Kyere, following his conviction in Australia for offences linked to financial fraud and money laundering, describing his actions as deeply damaging to the family’s reputation.
Kyere, who lived in Australia with his wife, was sentenced in August 2021 to a 19-month Intensive Correctional Order (ICO) after an Australian court found him guilty of multiple financial crimes under the country’s laws.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Yaw Kwebi told Adom News that relatives had initially supported Kyere and his siblings before he travelled abroad in pursuit of improved economic prospects. However, they said they were stunned when reports surfaced linking him to a fraudulent financial scheme involving other African nationals.
“He travelled with the hope of building a better life,” the family spokesperson said. “Instead, he became involved in activities that have brought shame and disgrace to the entire family.”
The family explained that Kyere’s arrest, trial and sentencing have had lasting social consequences, with their name frequently linked online to cybercrime and fraudulent activity.
They noted that renewed public discussion of Kyere’s case has been triggered by recent international cybercrime prosecutions involving Ghanaians, including the extradition of three Ghanaian nationals to the United States over a $100 million romance and business email compromise scam. Another Ghanaian, Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was also recently arrested for allegedly defrauding elderly Americans of over $8 million using AI-assisted romance schemes.
According to the family, these developments have revived scrutiny of Kyere’s conviction, compounding their embarrassment and frustration.
Family members stated that they severed relations with Kyere shortly after his conviction in 2021 and have no intention of reconciling with him or welcoming him back to Ghana.
“We do not want him to return. What he did is a stigma and a slur on our family name,” the spokesperson declared.
A source close to both Kyere and the family, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said tensions remain unresolved and that Kyere would face outright rejection if he attempted to return home.
The source added that Kyere is now isolated and uncertain about his future, caught between legal obligations abroad and estranged family ties in Ghana. The source appealed to Australian authorities to consider compassion in managing his situation, noting that Kyere currently has limited emotional and social support.
Efforts by this reporter to obtain comments from Kyere’s siblings were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak and distanced themselves from the issue.
