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“Telephone sex”, drug abuse increase in Ghana’s second
cycle schools
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, July 15, Ghanadot - The stakeholders in education at
a day’s workshop in Cape Coast in the Central Region have
expressed their displeasure about the increasing incidence
of “telephone sex” and drug abuse among students in second
cycle schools in Ghana.
This has become alarming due to the free
night mobile phone calls.
The term “telephone sex" involves the
muttering of sexually arousing sounds or a conversation
between two parties on phone.
Gang rape, homosexuality and lesbianism are
other sexual issues confronting most students in the
country.
Speaking at the day's workshop in Cape Coast for Guidance
and Counseling Co-ordinators in second cycle schools and
District Education offices in the Central Region, Rev.
Dennis Boadu,
Guidance and Counseling Officer at the
Mfantsipim School, added that the incidence of telephone sex
and drug abuse are impacting negatively on the academic
performance of students.
The workshop was organized by the Counseling Unit of the
Central Region Education office under the theme: "Equipping
Guidance and Counseling Coordinators to Handle Key Current
Issues Facing the Students Today".
Rev. Boadu emphasized that moral decadence among the youth
had become so serious that boys instead of shying away would
now brag of the numerous sexual affairs they have engaged
in. Most of them would be found with girls' photographs in
the first page of their note books.
On drug abuse, Rev. Boadu said drug addiction was no longer
a problem for boys alone but some girls also. "Apart from
the students peddling the drugs themselves, other teachers
and staff on campus such as the kitchen hands, barbers, and
shoemakers also sell the drugs to students."
He said the student drug addicts had resorted to the use of
oil produced out of the drugs called "sashes oil" and
brewing of drugs into drinks in order to make it difficult
for school authorities to detect them.
Rev. Boadu therefore appealed to parents, guidance and
counseling coordinators and civil society groups in Ghana to
brace themselves to help stem immorality among the youth.
Touching on cyber crime popularly known as "sakawa" and
occultism in schools, Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, National Schools
Ministry Coordinator of the Scripture Union-Ghana, indicated
occultism was a major global phenomenon which is difficult
to tackle and is also far beyond what rational evidence
could help address.
"Sakawa," Nana Awuku said, began as cyber fraud, moved to
the use of spells to charm victims before reaching the
current stage of blood money and advised the counselors to
suspect students who use strange symbols, candles and
objects as engaging in occultism.
Nana Awuku disclosed that research conducted in Akrofi
Christaller Institute at Akropong in October 2006 revealed
that out of 50 students involved in occultism, 56 per cent
of them said they were engaged in medicinal occultism, 30
per cent in magic and 14 percent in divination.
She said 40 per cent of the students said they got into it
for protection, 10 per cent for powers, 30 per cent for
success, 04 per cent to threaten colleagues and 6 per cent
for love.
Rev Professor Joseph Kwesi Essuman, former Head of the
Counseling Unit of the University of Cape Coast, advised
parents to strictly monitor and supervise their children.to
prevent them from engaging in such vices.
Ghanadot
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