The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has denounced the rising incidence of cybercrime and internet fraud in Ghana, cautioning the youth to desist from misusing the internet and use technology appropriately.
He warned that such practices undermine public trust, tarnish Ghana’s image abroad, and could land offenders in serious trouble with the law.
The speaker expressed the concern in a statement delivered on his behalf by Alhaji Kobina Ghansah, the Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, at the global launch of the Student Workforce and Innovation Movement (SWIM) project at Asikuma.
The SWIM project, a global youth empowerment initiative, seeks to bridge the gap between education and work by equipping students and young people in Africa with contemporary skills and connecting them to paid employment opportunities.
Working in partnership with about 50 schools and universities globally as well as several governments, the project resolves to remove geographical and technological barriers to give young people equal access to education, professional networks, digital skills, and employment offers, regardless of where they come from.
Already, more than 8,000 students across Africa have joined the platform to take part in a raft of courses including Artificial Intelligence (AI), block chain, and data science and form friendships with their counterpart abroad.
Instead of engaging in cybercrime such as identity theft, online exploitation, and other criminal activities, he implored young people to leverage technology to obtain skills, solve problems and acquire legitimate wealth.
“It is unfortunate when platforms designed to facilitate learning, communication, and economic advancement are used for cybercrime, internet fraud, identity theft, online exploitation, and other unlawful or immoral activities,” the Speaker noted.
“The pursuit of quick and unearned financial gains must never be allowed to replace the values of honesty, hard work, and integrity,” he added.
The colourful event was graced by traditional leaders, government officials, business owners, renowned academics, students, the diaspora community among other stakeholders.
Speaker Bagbin underscored the numerous opportunities offered by digital technology, artificial intelligence, social media, e-commerce, and digital financial services, urging the youth to leverage same to develop businesses, market products, provide professional services and access international markets.
“Technology must be an instrument of empowerment, not exploitation, a platform for enterprise, not criminality, and a force for national development and not societal destruction,” he stressed.
He urged strong collaboration among parents, educational institutions, religious bodies, and national institutions to promote digital literacy, ethical conduct, and responsible online behaviour.
The Speaker noted that the youth were among Ghana’s greatest national assets, with enormous potential to transform the economy and society through their energy, creativity, ambition, and innovation.
In that regard, he said youth empowerment must go beyond acknowledging challenges to creating practical opportunities in education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, and public participation.
And to the youth, he said they should not only seek employment but also develop innovative solutions, create jobs, and establish sustainable businesses.
Madam Louv Afua Amoakowaa Ford, the Founder and CEO of SWIM and a member of the diaspora community in the US, emphasised that it was the vision of SWIM to establish lasting relationships among students, professionals and peers through mentorships, friendships, business partnerships, and professional networks.
She said SWIM was not merely an educational platform but an initiative to build a connected global community where young people could access opportunities beyond their geographical boundaries.
She explained that through SWIM’s virtual classrooms, students could connect from different countries, backgrounds, and experiences, allowing them to learn and collaborate internationally.
“When we invest in one young person, we do more than change one life. We strengthen a family, we empower a community, we stimulate an economy, and we help shape a better world,” Madam Ford stressed.
The Founder, therefore, called on educators, employers, technology companies, financial institutions, governments, and philanthropists to support the initiative.
Madam Tanya Brown-Wiley, Chief Global Strategy Officer for SWIM, touching on barriers to digital access, revealed that SWIM was working with several partners to address internet connectivity challenges through student data bundles and create pathways for paid opportunities.
She reiterated the call for investment and partnerships to provide sponsorship, funding, certification, and paid work opportunities to support the expansion of the initiative and empower young people.
Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, commending the project, said the launch of SWIM represented a new commitment by traditional authorities to shaping the future of young people.
Addressing graduate unemployment, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu who is also the Omanhen of Breman Asikuma Traditional Area, observed that despite families making sacrifices to educate their children, many brilliant graduates remained unemployed due to limited opportunities, welcoming SWIM’s ambition to help young people turn “learning into earning.”
He called for partnerships and practical support, urging business leaders, educational institutions, traditional authorities, and faith communities to support the SWIM project with resources, projects, learning spaces, computers, and internet connectivity.
Odeefo Buadu, who is also the royal patron of SWIM, further urged Ghanaians in the diaspora to mentor young people, connect them to employers, and help link local talent to global opportunities while encouraging young people to pursue excellence, integrity, and purposeful learning.
Mr George Opare Addo, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, assured SWIM of the government’s continued support, and readiness to work with organisations committed to providing practical development solutions.
Already, he disclosed that the government, through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SWIM to advance the cause of the project.
He explained that the government was working to create an ecosystem that prepared young people not only for employment but also for entrepreneurship and innovation.
“One of the biggest challenges confronting our country is not simply the number of young people graduating from our educational institutions. It is how effectively we connect their education, knowledge, and skills to the opportunities in the economy,” he said.
“We are prepared to work with organisations that share this commitment, and we are willing to move beyond promises to implementation,” he added.
He noted that NEIP was implementing the Adwumawura Programme, which aimed to support at least 10,000 young entrepreneurs annually over four years through training, business development support, and grants to selected viable businesses.
J. Allen Joines, Mayor of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, delivering his address virtually, congratulated SWIM on its global mission and applauded the vision behind the initiative.
He stressed the importance of investing in young people and equipping them with the right tools, training, and opportunities to succeed, reaffirming his support for the project.
