Editorial
Let’s be vigilant to prevent being victims of job scams
The public has been cautioned by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to be careful of the new tactics being used in employment scams.
The Authority claims that more and more examples of job scams involving victims who lost a significant amount of money are being reported.
Typically, scammers send unsolicited messages using email, Telegram, WhatsApp, and SMS, among other channels.
These scammers impersonate recruiters and promise high-paying, remote or part-time jobs involving digital tasks such as liking social media or clicking on a link.
Numerous people have been duped by these scammers, who first entice their victims with small amounts in exchange for larger sums of money after the victims are locked out of their accounts.
The quicker this concerning tendency is addressed, the better, as it will protect the wallets of job seekers who are in a dire situation.
In relation to employment scams is the problem of cyberattacks. Organisations in the internet age mostly depend on information technology (IT) infrastructure to protect them against cyberattacks, which is why cybersecurity is so important.
Cyber security is the process of safeguarding computer systems and networks against unauthorised access or being otherwise damaged.
Cyber security is crucial because it protects people and organisations from cyberattacks and the loss or theft of sensitive data.
Because of this, businesses, governments, and private citizens are making significant investments in cyber security to safeguard their data and assets from hackers; yet, the risk of cybercrime is rising quickly.
Also, hackers now manage to obtain unauthorised access to Facebook accounts, hinder individuals from accessing their own accounts, and utilise these accounts to secretly raise money.
Another worrying development is that some hackers have been calling victims’ phone numbers and tricking them into updating their WhatsApp accounts in order to obtain personal information that they can use for other schemes, such as Momo fraud.
The Spectator urges the public to exercise caution and distrust high-paying occupations that require little effort. The best way to avoid employment frauds is to double-check job postings.
Sometimes a scam can be easily identified because of the numerous grammatical, typographical, and consistency flaws in the messages.
Certain organisations clearly specify that applicants should not submit any payment at all throughout the hiring process therefore jobseekers who are asked to pay an employer before being hired should be cautious about such practices.
Let’s all exercise caution to stop these scammers and hackers from doing their business.
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
