I read, recently, a post by Thomas Morton, Vice Magazine/Motherboard.tv on CNN of the cyber crime issue in Africa. Before I begin to respond to that ill researched report, I would like to say to the African media and stakeholders of its cultural values to sit up and take conscientious responsibility of the African image and enlighten the reportage of all African news in Africa and to the western world. Who better can tell the story of Africa than Africans themselves?
I pity our helpless selves when I read these sorts of downgrading and black-painting stories about Africa by foreigners. They sit in their cozy office chairs and think because they have an upper hand of the worlds discerning listeners, wider coverage and are held most credible they can report derogatory and defamatory news about Africa. As an African myself, I would not only blame the writers of such stories but would include African journalists as well as the film and cultural industry who mostly report bad news about Africa to Africans and the western world. Our movies and stories today mostly have a story line of fetishism, black magic, and grass to illegal grace (sakawa) stories just recollecting a few, meanwhile the western world in the midst of all their uncontrollable fraud, mystery murders, park shootouts, rampant kidnaps and hundreds of other vices most often portray their bright and good side making it mouth watering to tourists and investors.
The preamble to the scam report written by CNN clearly supports and acts as a catalyst to this bad media reportage and openly states that the journalism of vice is good enough as long as it is against Africa as a continent or Africans even though it may be ill researched. Countless are the decays in the American economy and countless are the ills in that society. Who says the western world is perfect, who declared the western world a better place to be, who can say the west is void of crime and fraud? Let him or her stand up.
I was well angered at the utter sarcasm this journalist used to express his ignorant self and to make an African ridicule (yes a lunatic by African standard) of himself, then again it is only Africans who can tell how exaggerated and naïve he is and can go well ahead to prove his unprofessionalism as a journalist drawing attention to himself and his obnoxious writing by hook or by crook.
In his fictitious writing, Thomas tells of how dirt roads lead past the brand-new, gold-columned presidential palace. I do not know if Thomas has ever visited this beautiful country and driven past our Presidential palace, his statements readily tell that he never has visited and probably saw an old photograph of the area of the Jubilee house years before it was finished. The independence avenue, as that stretch of road is called had been tarred as first class since 1999 or earlier disproving his backdated theories and discrediting his entire writing. I was surprised how CNN could actually read this “Ananse” story (as a native would call a work of fiction and an exaggerated piece of writing), applaud it and grant it space on its credible platform (which I now doubt though). How is it possible that 99% of the Ghanaian population be hawking bags of water at stop lights? going further to discredit the president and his cabinet. I am utterly dismayed at the sheer silence of the Ghanaian executive at this outrageous blasphemy. Is it part of our agreement for a loan or grant to stay silent at these remarks on our country? Are they giving us loans and grants to buy our freedom of speech and freedom to talk against their media? Are we subtly buying slavery in the pretext of nation building?
It can be readily concluded that “sakawa” exists and thrives on the greed of the western world. They are lured to think whoever they are corresponding with is a very prominent person in society and even sometimes are lured with ladies and marriage proposals. I read on odessa ladies some of the strategies used by scammers to get their marks and most are based on the same reason, greed. Is it not obvious that the westerners still want our gold, hold shares in our oil fields, want to marry our women and invest in our country? I was glad though that Thomas pointed out that the westerners taught Ghanaians basic credit card fraud, telling us of how hypocritical they are and how much of enemies they are of themselves, I should say sorry to well meaning westerners for the generalization. As much as I do not support the practice of “sakawa” I believe the kind of generalization by this supposed journalist is misplaced and sentences like “internet scamming is the only way most Ghanaians can afford flashy cars and luxury” must be retracted. Permit me to educate ignoramus Thomas that there are well meaning and hard working Ghanaians and Africans, who work tirelessly and make good genuine money.
I frown at sakawa, I detest internet fraud, I do not support black magic or witchcraft and as a charismatic Christian I do not support stealing, which sakawa is, but I would definitely not take kindly to generalizing this issue and overlooking hardworking Ghanaians of which I am one. I would leave westerners with this that, the best way to fight internet fraud is to learn how to avoid becoming a victim.
Get over your greed; be content with what you have!
