The Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, has urged the youth, especially students, to stay away from cyber fraud and concentrate on their books to enable them to become useful future citizens.

Mr Hayfron made the call at a seminar on Cyber Fraud.

It was organised by the Guidance and Counseling Practicum 11 Group Four of University of Education Winneba (UEW), for students of the Mankessim Senior Technical School.

It was under the theme: “Cyber Fraud (Sakawa) and its Effects on the Psychosocial Life of the Youth.”

He said Ghana is among the first top three countries in Africa where people indulge in cyber fraud and this gave a bad picture of the country.

Mr Hayfron advised the youth to take their education seriously because education is critical to self-development, poverty reduction and national progress.

In a presentation on behalf of the group, the Reverend Ernest Appiah, leader of the group, expressed concern about the increasing number of youth getting involved in internet fraud.

He advised the youth to discard the notion of getting quick money.

According to the group, the major effects of cyber crime include, wasting time and distraction from productive activities.

They said: some “Children who engage in internet fraud have become lesbians and gays.”

The group emphasized the need for periodical guidance fora to expose the youth to the consequences of cyber crime to avoid becoming victims of circumstances.

Nana Ama Amissah, Queenmother of Mankessim, urged the youth to stay away from “Sakawa” because its effects on the economic and human resources were damning.**