The Economic and Organized Crime Office, with support from the National Crime Agency (NCA), liaised with the Ghana Education Service (GES) on a sensitization drive on Prohibited Cyber Activities and related matters in the Tamale Metropolis.
The five-day sensitization program targeted some selected senior high schools in the Northern Region from March 20th to March 24th, 2023.
In all, a total of thirteen selected schools were privileged to have participated in the program. The beneficiary schools included Tamale Girls Senior High, Anbariya Senior High School, Dabokpa Senior High Technical School, Islamic Senior High, Vitting Senior High, Tamale Senior High, Northern Senior High, Business Senior High School, St. Charles’ Senior High, Tamale Senior High Technical School, Presby Senior High School, and Kalpohin Senior High School.
The objectives of the program were to create awareness of the mandate of EOCO, prohibited cyber activities, and the devastating effects these activities have on individuals (both perpetrators and victims), families, businesses, and the country as a whole. The program also highlighted some dangers that are associated with the use of cyberspace.
On the first day of the program, the Northern Regional Director, Mr. Frank Nutsuakor, in his introductory remarks, gave a brief overview of the spate of prohibited cybercrime activities in the country and their negative effects on the nation and the individuals who are involved.
He, therefore, urged the students to pay attention to the presentation. On his part, the Headmaster of Vitting Senior High School, Mr. Felix Tsirim added his voice by reminding the students that people who indulge in sakawa always die horrific deaths and at very young ages.
He noted that there are no known retired Sakawa persons that ever lived.
Head of EOCO’s Public Affairs Unit, Mrs. Faustina Lartey in her presentation stressed the global nature of the world and because of the use of the internet making it a small place for its users. She stated that despite the many positive things that the internet can be used for, some recalcitrant persons have resorted to using it for unexplainable negativities such as cyber crimes.
Notable among them are: Romance and Dating Scam, Mobile Money Fraud, Scholarship Scam, Hacking, Advance Fee Fraud (419), Examination Results Scam, Spam, Phishing and Identity Theft.
While explaining these various types of cyber-crimes to the students, she mentioned that persons engaged 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, encouraged students who are engaged in hacking, to as a matter of urgency, put a stop to it and better stay long enough in school to 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 that Ghanaians work hard to maintain a positive global image of the country in order to appeal to foreign investors and make it a more attractive tourist destination.
She further encouraged all persons present, to report perpetrators of cyber-crimes to EOCO and other law enforcement agencies stressing on the protection of privacy and safety of complainants.
Heads of the beneficiary schools were elated and encouraged the team to make routine visits to remind students of the need to desist from engaging in such criminal activities and also pledged to share the information with family and friends who were not opportune to benefit from the programme.
Present at the program were a team from the Cybersecurity Authority who educated students on cyber hygiene.
Also embedded in the presentation was a special message for all students from EOCO’s Executive Director, Mrs. Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah encouraging students to take their studies seriously and desist from engaging in cyber crimes which could cut their dreams short.
In all, the Public Affairs Team with the able support of Tamale’s Regional Director and his team interacted with over twenty-three thousand (23,172) students made up of 11,638 male students and 11,534 female students, 72 heads and staff.
