The Economic and Organised Crime Office with support from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the GIZ Governance for Inclusive Development Programme co-founded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) embarked on a sensitisation drive on Prohibited Cyber Activities and its related matters in the Ashanti Region.
The programme targeted some selected Senior High Schools in the region. The first phase of the programme was from 23rd- 27th January and the second phase started on 13th -18th February 2023.
Some of the schools that benefitted are Opoku Ware Senior High School, St. Hubert Senior High School, Kumasi Senior High Technical School, Islamic Senior High School, Adventist Senior High School, Asanteman Senior High School, Kumasi Wesley Girls Senior High School, Kumasi Girls Senior High School, Prempeh College, Osei Tutu Senior High School, Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School and Dwamena Akenten Senior High School.
The other beneficiary schools were: KNUST Senior High School, St. Louis Senior High School, Ejisuman Senior High School Juaben Senior High School, Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School, Simms Senior High School, Kofi Agyei Senior High School, Kumasi High Senior High School, Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Serwaa Nyarko Girls Senior High School and Kumasi Academy Senior High School.
The objective of the programme was to create awareness of the mandate of EOCO, Prohibited Cyber Activity and the negative effects these activities have on individuals (perpetrators and victims), families, businesses and the country as a whole. The programme also highlighted some dangers that are associated with the use of cyberspace.
The Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Mrs. Faustina Lartey in her presentation mentioned, a number of cybercrimes but notable among them are Romance and Dating Scam, Mobile Money Fraud, Scholarship scams, Hacking, Advance fee fraud (419) and examination results scams. While explaining the various types of cyber-crimes to the students she mentioned that persons who engage in advance fee fraud could spend up to twenty-five years imprisonment when convicted. In addition, she emphasized the fact that ignorance of the law is no excuse and that children who engage in these crimes could end up in the Juvenile Correctional Centre.
Mrs Faustina Lartey, advised students who engage in hacking, to put a stop to it with immediate effect. She encouraged them to stay in school long enough, study hard, pass their exam and apply for a course in ethical hacking and its related courses rather than becoming black hackers.
She concluded her delivery by stating that it is important for Ghanaians to work hard to maintain a positive global image of the country to appeal to foreign investors and make it a more attractive tourist destination. Further, she encouraged all persons present to report perpetrators of cyber-crimes to EOCO and other law enforcement agencies. She noted that EOCO does not reveal the identity of complainants to criminals and assured all persons present that their identities would be protected.
Also embedded in the presentation was a special message for all students from COP Maama Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah EOCOโs Executive Director encouraging students to take their studies seriously and desist from engaging in cybercrimes.
In all, the Public Affairs team interacted with about fifty-five thousand students and staff. Present on the sensitization drive were representatives of the GIZ, NCA and a team from Cyber Security Authority.
