In order to raise awareness of Prohibited Cyber Activities and related issues in the Ashanti Region, the Economic and Organized Crime Office, EOCO, 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 schools campaign.
The programme specifically targeted a few senior high schools in the Ashanti region.
The first phase of the programme ran from January 23 through January 27.
Asanteman Senior High School, Opoku Ware Senior High School, St. Hubert Senior High School, Kumasi Senior High Technical School, Islamic Senior High School, Adventist 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 are a few of the schools that benefited.
The second phase began between February 13 and February 18, saw the KNUST Senior High School, St. Louis Senior High School, and Ejisuman Senior High School , Serwaa Nyarko Girls Senior High School, Kumasi Academy 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 as recipient schools.
The goals of the programme were to raise public knowledge of the EOCO’s authority, Banned Cyber Activity, and the harm that these actions cause to people (both offenders and victims), families, businesses, and the nation as a whole.
The program also brought attention to several risks related to using the internet.
The head of the public affairs unit at the Economic and Organized Crime Office, EOCO, Faustina Lartey, listed a number of cyber crimes, but highlighted romance and dating scams, mobile money fraud, scholarship scams, hacking, advance fee fraud (419), and test results scams as particularly noteworthy.
She emphasized that anyone found guilty of advance fee fraud might face up to twenty-five years in jail., adding that youngsters who commit these crimes risk spending time in the Juvenile Detention Center.
Faustina Lartey reminded the participants that being oblivious of the law is no excuse of defense hence they must be security conscious and hasten slowly in their actions in the cyber space.
She counselled students who indulge in hacking and other cyber related crimes to quit forthwith.
She urged the students to focus on their education, work hard on their studies, pass their exams, and then enroll for an ethical hacking course or one of its associated courses as opposed to becoming black hackers.
Faustina Lartey exhorted everyone in attendance to report cyber criminals to EOCO and other law enforcement organizations.
She assured the participants of the protection of their identities should they provide credible information to EOCO about crimes they are aware.
Special message from COP Maama for the pupils as well.
The Executive Director of EOCO, Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, exhorts the students to refrain from committing cybercrimes.
The Public Affairs team interacted with around 55,000 staff members and students in total. Representatives from the GIZ, NCA, and a group from the Cyber Security Authority were present at the sensitization drive.
By Peter Quao Adattor
