AN INVESTIGATION OF YOUTH IN CYBERCRIME IN THE AYAWASO EAST CONSTITUENCY OF GREATER ACCRA

ABSTRACT

Cybercrime, an offence that is committed against individuals through the internet, has bedevilled the

global online industry as well as the reputation of countries. All efforts to combat it has proven futile.

The need to investigate it thoroughly and bring about ways of combating it and policing the online

space necessitated the study to be conducted. This study investigated the causes, modus operandi, and

the state of intelligence of the menace. Methodologically, the study used mixed approach (mix of

quantitative and qualitative methods) to sample 111 participants (11 key informants, 60 youths

engaged in cybercrime, and 40 community members faced with cybercrime issues) in Ayawaso East

Constituency to derive the primary data for the attainment of the study objectives. The findings based

on analytical evidence showed that, demographic characteristics of respondents has an influence on

cybercrime. In addition, it was established that, employment, computer illiteracy, and moral principles

which bears on awareness creation and education on cybercrime help people to restrain from the

influencing factors that push others into cybercrime practices. Moreover, the study demonstrated that

policing cybercrime is a big challenge for the security agencies as well as the affected communities.

Conclusively, cyber-crime presents enormous challenges to society, especially developing societies

that are trying to catch-up with the technology revolution, yet are relatively weaker to respond to the

challenges of this development. The study recommended partnership, improvement in law

enforcement, and adoption of best practices (such as sophisticated ITC technologies) from countries

that have been able tackle cybercrime issues to address the menace in Ghana.