Musician, Kwabena Kwabena
Kwabena Kwabena has reacted to the rise in fraudulent activities among young people in Ghana.
“It’s unfortunate,” the singer said to Nana Romeo on Ayekoo Ayekoo on Accra 100.5 FM, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Getting to the heart of the disturbing trend, however, Kwabena Kwabena said: “It’s because there are no jobs but people still need to survive.”
The 'Kwadede' hitmaker, speaking directly to the Ministry of Communication, lamented how traditional and new media have operated unchecked for a long time.
“The things we’ve allowed on our airwaves and platforms is what has put the youth under so much pressure,” the Highlife star charged.
He decried the use of social media to show affluence even among young people who typically do not have the wherewithal.
“The things we put on social media, the things young people flaunt, you’d see a 22-year-old wanting to drive a Range Rover, Mercedes Benz, build a house and do big things beyond his reach,” Kwabena Kwabena cited.
“Due to this, the virtue of patience has been lost,” he added.
Again, he said, “These days, our sisters would not give you the time of day if you don’t have money and so our young men are under a lot of pressure to be able to live the big life and this has resulted in all these worrying lifestyles and activities”.
Kwabena Kwabena bemoaned how today’s girls and women alike are enchanted by “what they see on social media which makes them desire a lot of unattainable and unrealistic things.”
“And so, there comes the need to get a papa [sugar daddy] involved,” the award-winning songwriter and composer observed.
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has announced a significant increase in online blackmail and sextortion cases.
In a public alert issued on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, the CSA revealed, following a March 2024 alert that reported a 254 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases for the first two months of the year, an additional 141 reports were filed between March and June.
In total, 226 cases have been recorded this year, resulting in a loss of GHS112,209.
The CSA outlined the tactics employed by threat actors including social media engagement, intimate relationships, unsolicited video calls, unauthorised access, and ransom threats.
The CSA, therefore, made some recommendations for protection against these threats and gave the following advice:
> Caution in Online Relationships: Be wary of quickly progressing online relationships, especially those leading to requests for intimate content. Do not share such content;
> Friend Requests: Avoid accepting online friend requests from unknown individuals;
> Video Calls: Be cautious of video calls from unknown people on social media platforms;
> Strong Passwords: Use strong passwords to protect sensitive data and only use reputable mobile device repair services;
> No Nude Content: Avoid capturing or storing nude images or videos of yourself on your devices;
> Unsolicited Messages: Be cautious of unsolicited messages or offers, especially those promising money or business opportunities
The CSA emphasised the importance of vigilance and caution in online interactions to prevent falling victim to malicious schemes.
