Editorial
Stealing does not pay
Dear Editor,
Not long ago, the act of duping people in the Ghanaian society got a new name: ‘Sakawa’. Without knowing where the name came from, suspected criminals hid behind their computers and stole cash from innocent victims.
No matter what name one will give to the act of deceit, trick, and stealing, the illegal act to gain favours in several ways has been with man since the creation of the world.
The simple explanation is that the act of stealing, deceiving or tricking someone to get favours is sophisticated in our time, and suspects keep changing their tactics every minute their styles are exposed.
As their tricks are exposed, suspected criminals change their style from stealing people via the internet to using the phone to tell lies to their victims in foreign countries to win favours.
The criminals formulate more lies, roping in influential personalities such as ministers, politician’s, philanthropists, celebrities, chiefs, security commanders, district chief executives, pastors, among others.
Some Ghanaians blame it on poor living conditions, forcing energetic and industrious youth to employ such tactics in order to ‘survive.’
When it comes to ‘Sakawa’, there are more scenarios or stories relating to people in Ghana making deceitful statements and telephone calls to dupe their relatives abroad.
The story is told of a suspect, who duped his uncle when he lied about suffering from life threatening condition, and needed money to settle his medical bills.
A woman was also said to have connived with a private school proprietor to sack her children from school for non-payment of school fees. The plot was to get her husband who lives abroad to send huge sums of money but she was exposed by a private investigator.
Another young man employed similar trick when he told his uncle that he was running a profitable business in Accra and needed money to expand operations.
The uncle was said to have returned to Ghana to inquire about the business only to be told that the “kiosk had been demolished by city guards.”
Many people devise various strategies to outwit their victims with the excuse that the economic situatuons are becoming unbearable. Some good-hearted people, out of pity, end up losing huge money as they fall for the trick.
But it is time we continued educating the young ones that there is no shortcut to creating wealth, and that it takes the fear of God, humility, patience, quality education and hard work to become rich.
Making deceitful statements to make money is not worth it and there is no blessing for doing that and those who indulge in this practice must advise themselves.
Stephen Quaye,
Dansoman, Accra.
Dear Editor,
Walking along roads in some parts of the capital has become increasingly challenging.
While trading on pedestrian walkways remains a concern in certain areas, the parking of vehicles on road shoulders also poses a serious risk to pedestrians.
Often, pedestrians are forced to walk dangerously close to these parked vehicles or even step into the middle of the road to make way for oncoming traffic.
This situation is not only frustrating but also highly unsafe.
I recall an incident when I alighted at a lorry station and was walking home. A Tata bus was approaching, and due to vehicles parked on both sides of the road, I had nowhere to walk safely.
The situation became so dangerous that I had to quickly jump into a nearby shop to avoid being knocked down by the oncoming Tata bus.
That experience was frightening and could have easily resulted in an accident.
In my view, it is time for authorities in the road sector, such as the National Road Safety Authority and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to take urgent action to address this issue and prevent possible loss of life.
Strict enforcement measures, including towing improperly parked vehicles and imposing substantial fines, would serve as a deterrent to offenders.
From Ray
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this column of your respected newspaper to appeal to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to consider bringing back the practice where students stayed home for some months after completing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Within that period where they stay home for some time and wait for their results, it afforded parents some time to prepare and save towards the next move in the academic life of their children.
In recent times, students are quickly admitted into Senior High School immediately after their examinations, leaving little time for parents and guardians to adequately prepare financially and emotionally for the next stage of their children’s education.
Many parents, therefore struggle to buy school items such as chop boxes, trunks, mattresses, uniforms and other necessities within the short period given.
This situation places pressure on families, especially those with low incomes.
Previously, the break after BECE allowed students to rest after years of academic work while parents and guardians made proper preparations for their wards.
It also gave students enough time to learn vocational skills, assist their families and mature before entering boarding school life.
Bringing back this period will greatly reduce stress on both parents and students and help ensure better preparation for Senior High School education.
And one other thing we have not taken notice of is that within that period, parents also prepare their children mentally and psychologically before they go to school. They are thought how to be independent.
So we see new secondary students displaying an appreciable level of maturity which is missing in this era where they go to senior high schools and still behave like primary school kids.
I hope the authorities will carefully consider this concern in the interest of students, parents and guardians across the country.
By Eugene Ampiaw,
Accra.
