The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has successfully held its maiden Nationwide Essay Competition Awards Ceremony, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the impact of organized crime and its related vices among young people.
The event, which attracted participants from various schools, focused on equipping the youth with knowledge about cybercrime, financial crime, and other organized crimes, as well as encouraging them to share their thoughts and experiences on these critical issues.
Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah highlighted the importance of the initiative in creating a proactive approach to tackling economic and organized crime.
"This competition was designed to assess the knowledge of young people on issues such as cyberbullying and other prohibited cyber activities."
"he essays revealed an impressive understanding of these topics, with some participants drawing from personal experiences to enrich their submissions,"
The awards ceremony showcased exceptional entries, with one participant narrating how their sibling fell victim to cyberbullying.
The emotional account underscored the need for increased awareness of the dangers of the internet and social media misuse.
As part of EOCO's five-year strategic plan, the essay competition aims to educate the younger generation on the effects of organized crime and how they can contribute to its prevention.
"If we want to stay ahead in the fight against economic and organized crime, we need to educate our youth and provide them with the tools to make informed decisions," she added.
The event also provided a platform for participants to suggest innovative solutions to combat organized crime.
Students as young as ten years old shared insightful recommendations, emphasizing the importance of using technology responsibly and distinguishing between credible and false information on social media.
The Executive Director expressed optimism about the future, noting that the competition was a step in the right direction.
Plans are underway to expand the initiative to include tertiary institutions and engage a wider audience in subsequent editions.
The ceremony concluded with a call for society to leverage the internet for positive purposes while remaining vigilant about its potential dangers.
EOCO reiterated its commitment to creating more opportunities for youth engagement and fostering a society well-informed about the threats posed by organized crime.
Ransford Nana Addo Jnr, Head of Financial Crime Management at Fidelity Bank, has lauded the involvement of young people in raising awareness about organized crime and its effects on society.
Mr. Addo Jnr expressed his optimism about the future, highlighting the insightful contributions made by participants.
“I’m not surprised that the young ones are taking charge of organized crime knowledge,” he remarked.
"One of the participants shared an essay on cyberbullying, a concept that even some adults struggle to fully understand. This shows we have a bright future ahead, and initiatives like this should be encouraged.”
Mr. Addo Jnr further emphasized the importance of empowering the younger generation with the knowledge and tools to combat crimes such as cyberbullying and other financial crimes.
He applauded EOCO for creating a platform that inspires youth to share their thoughts and experiences, thereby fostering a culture of awareness and proactive engagement in addressing organized crime.
Dominic Cummins, International Relations Officer at the National Crime Agency (NCA) based in Accra, has praised the efforts of Ghanaian youth in addressing organized crime through creative and thought-provoking essays.
Mr. Cummins highlighted the importance of engaging young minds in understanding and tackling issues related to economic and organized crime.
“It’s remarkable to see the younger generation taking charge of organized crime knowledge at such an early age,” he stated.
“Some of the essays were truly eye-opening, touching on topics like cyberbullying and other cybercrimes, areas that even many adults struggle to comprehend fully. This shows a level of maturity and awareness that is inspiring.”
Mr. Cummins noted the transformative potential of such initiatives, emphasizing how they help educate young people on the detrimental effects of organized crime and empower them to be part of the solution.
He acknowledged the personal experiences shared by some participants, which underscored the real-life impact of these issues on individuals and communities.
“The creativity and critical thinking displayed by these students were outstanding. It’s encouraging to see teachers, parents, and guardians supporting and guiding their children to think deeply about these challenges,” he added.
He also commended EOCO’s partnership with other stakeholders in rolling out this initiative, stating that early engagement with the youth is vital in building a resilient society.
“This partnership is a great step towards addressing the impacts of organized crime, which ultimately affects everyone in their daily lives. The ideas presented here today demonstrate a promising future for combating these issues,” Mr. Cummins concluded.
The competition marks the beginning of a nationwide effort to create awareness and educate the public, especially the younger generation, on the implications of financial and organized crime.
Below are the award winners and the marks scored.
Speaking after receiving the awards, the winners expressed joy and urged fellow colleagues to take up challenges when such topics pops up.
They promised to be good ambassadors.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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