[ 2014-10-25 ]

Sakawa boys riding flashy vehicles, building expensive houses in Tamale
The rate at which pupils and students are
abandoning school for cyber fraud, popularly known
as 'Sakawa', has reached alarming proportions in
the Tamale metropolis of the Northern Region.

Primary school children, some about 14-years-old,
have abandoned school to engage in cyber fraud.

The 'Finder'’s investigations have revealed a
disturbing trend where it is common to find pupils
sitting at internet cafes in school uniforms
during school hours.

These school children are being influenced by the
ostentatious lifestyles of adults engaged in cyber
fraud in Tamale.

Lately, ‘sakawa’ has assumed a new meaning.
Now, it is being used in relation to ‘blood
money’ rituals, also known as ‘sikaduro’ in
Akan.

Sources revealed that people within the working
class are now into it with the connivance of some
officials of some foreign banks, who usually
assist them to withdraw the money at a fee.

The menace is gradually eating away moral values
within the society because the ‘game boys’, as
they are called, are the toast of ladies in town
due to the wealth they have accumulated from their
activities.

They ride flashy vehicles, build expensive houses,
and wear expensive clothing. They are gradually
establishing a city of their own in some areas in
Tamale where they put up expensive houses.

Speaking to 'The Finder', Regional Police Public
Relations Officer (PRO), ASP Ebenezer Tetteh said
the canker has serious security implications for
the metropolis, and appealed to residents to help
the police nib it in the bud.

According to him, the ‘game boys,’ most of
whom are supposed to be in school, are rather
desirous of a luxurious lifestyle, hence they
engage in ‘sakawa’.

The leader of Anbariya Sunni community in Northern
Ghana, Sheikh Abubakar Saeed Zakariah, noted that
government and Muslim chiefs should have a common
platform to discuss ways of containing the canker,
which according to him is not only a crucial moral
issue but also a serious security threat, which if
not tackled has the potential of destroying the
youth and the society at large.

According to him, parents have the responsibility
of ensuring that their children are brought up
according to the morals of society, adding:
“Parents who don’t question their children
about the source of their income when they know
very well that the children are still young to
acquire those properties and are not employed in
any meaningful economic activity have questions to
answer.”

Sheikh Saeed also charged Muslim clerics to preach
against the canker wherever they get the
opportunity, especially at funerals, weddings and
other social gatherings.

He said that Muslims are enjoined to fight any
social issue that affects society negatively with
every resource at their disposal, and therefore
called on all Muslims to therefore called on all
Muslims to wage a relentless war on the
‘sakawa’ menace.

“We as Muslims must fight this problem with our
strength, knowledge, power, resources, and at
least our voices,” Sheikh Saeed added.

He noted that ‘sakawa’ is not sustainable and
therefore the ‘game boys’ would pose a serious
security threat to society in the years to come.

“Sakawa’ will not be there forever but let us
look at the life of the ‘sakawa’ people in the
post-sakawa era, maybe in the next 10 years,” he
stated.

He also advised teachers and Muslim clerics to
report any pupil or student who engages in
‘sakawa’ to the parents, and called on the
Muslim clerics to boycott the ceremonies of
perceived ‘sakawa’ dons who have vowed not to
stop the immoral act.

The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU)
Commander of Northern Region, Superintendent
Godwin Cashman Blewusie, noted that the police are
ready to confront these boys, and called on chiefs
and opinion leaders to help them nib the issue in
the bud.

“We are seriously committed to making Tamale and
the entire region a safe place for all
peace-loving people to live support of the public
and the opinion leaders.”

Headmaster of a school in Tamale, Mr. Abubakari
Oluman Saddique noted that the ‘sakawa’ menace
has compounded indiscipline in schools and that
pupil’s under 18 years are now driving flashy
vehicles and have abandoned school.

According to him, some of the ‘game boys’ have
abandoned school permanently, noting that if care
is not taken the best brains would be lost to the
menace.

“Brilliant children who could have grown to be
responsible citizens are now engaging in
‘sakawa’ at the expense of their education,”
he noted.

The police have also expressed serious reservation
about the interference of politicians and duty
bearers in their bid to get rid of deviants in the
region.

Some of the boys close to the ‘sakawa’ boys
said ‘sakawa’ has now gone beyond the physical
cyber fraud and that the perpetrators now seek the
assistance of spiritualist to mesmerize their
victims.

Source - The Finder

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