Sakawa, money rituals eroding societal values – NCCE

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has raised alarm over what it describes as the erosion of Ghana’s moral compass, warning that wealth and materialism are increasingly overshadowing cultural and ethical values.

This concern was highlighted during the Commission’s first National Dialogue, held in Accra on Tuesday, September 9, under the theme: “Empowering Citizens, Promoting Accountability.”

Delivering the welcome address, the Deputy Chairman for General Services at the NCCE, Victor Brobbey, observed that values rooted in faith and morality are being reshaped by negative influences.

He pointed to internet fraud, money rituals, exploitative religious practices, and other forms of misconduct as examples of a disturbing societal shift.

“We continue to see a disturbing trend across communities. What we’re experiencing today is not just a mere lapse in values; it is a crisis of moral direction. The moral compass that drives our society, shaped by religion and a deep sense of common responsibilities, is currently being replaced by a new order. Our young people are under immense pressure to acquire wealth by any means necessary,” he stated.

According to him, fraudulent practices such as sakawa, internet scams, and money ritual have now crept into mainstream youth culture, while exploitative clerics continue to take advantage of the vulnerable.

“Sakawa, internet fraud, scamming, money ritual practices have crept into mainstream youth culture. Internet fraud is no longer frowned upon in many communities; it is now seen as a symbol of intelligence. So-called men of God are exploiting the vulnerable, deepening the erosion of values,” Mr. Brobbey added.

This dialogue by the NCCE is an initiative under the “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Fight Against Corruption in Ghana” project which forms part of the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy programme, PAIReD, which is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by the European Union (EU) and Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by GIZ.

Source: citinewsroom