Konnected Minds Podcast

Host: Derrick Abaitey
Episode Segment: Hunger & Desperation – Why Young Ghanaians Choose Internet Fraud Over Slow Success
Date: February 8, 2026

Episode Overview

This segment of the Konnected Minds Podcast delves into the complex reasons why many young Ghanaians are turning to internet fraud, commonly known as "sakawa," rather than pursuing traditional, legal paths to success. Host Derrick Abaitey facilitates a thought-provoking discussion with two guests, examining the interplay between social and economic pressures, the allure of quick wealth, societal programming, and the consequences faced by those making such choices. The conversation is raw, honest, and unfiltered, reflecting on personal experiences and broader societal patterns affecting Ghana’s youth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Exposure and Social Conditioning

• When does indoctrination begin?
  • The guests discuss how exposure to internet fraud starts as early as senior high school, driven by what young people see in their environment and on social media.
    • “A lot of this Internet scam thing... it comes from what you see around you and what you want to become. Social media has raised expectations of our life generally across our board.” – B [01:26]
• Societal Pressure:
  • Parents, teachers, and society often fail to provide alternatives or encouragement, leading some to believe that illegal means are a shortcut to success.

2. The Role of Social Media and Unrealistic Expectations

• Unattainable Lifestyles:
  • Social media showcases lavish lifestyles, which sets unrealistic benchmarks for youth who lack traditional opportunities.
    • “Almost every kid now will probably say they will become a billionaire, but in reality, that’s not what will happen…” – B [01:44]
• Peer Influence:
  • Witnessing peers acquire wealth through ‘shortcuts’ can override moral reservations.

3. Skills Acquisition: ‘Godfathers’ and Underground Networks

• Learning the Craft:
  • Most newcomers are introduced and taught by peers or more experienced individuals (so-called “godfathers”).
    • “They learn from the people who are already into it... So like what they see in the media, they see their age mates living this lavish life, and they want to know how.” – C [02:14]
• Motivations:
  • Even those who feel it’s wrong may rationalize with thoughts about using the money for good once acquired.

4. Understanding Consequences and Morality

• Detachment:
  • Many fail to fully grasp the harm being done due to the faceless nature of online scams.
    • “When you’re scamming someone outside... you are literally talking to a machine. You don’t internalize that there’s a human being who has built 80 years of their life building this wealth.” – B [03:42]
• Lack of Moral Checks:
  • For some, there’s no internal or external moral compass; for others, guilt and self-reflection can turn them away from fraud.

5. Poverty, Hunger, and Desperation

• Root Causes:
  • Poverty and lack of basic needs create desperation, pushing youth into fraudulent activities.
    • "If you are rich in a poor community, you are not safe because the people there, hungry… when hunger comes too, there's desperation." – C [04:41]
• Justification:
  • Many rationalize their actions with excuses about survival or providing for family, even if they know it doesn’t justify the crime.

6. Limited Alternatives and Personal Choices

• Finding Your Path:
  • The discussion shifts to searching for personal talents/unique advantages as the basis for legal and fulfilling success.
    • “Everybody has things they are either interested in or things they have a unique advantage. Find what that is... work towards that and build that up.” – B [06:00-06:55]
• Personal Stories:
  • One guest shares how discovering his skill in public speaking and storytelling led to content creation and legitimate business.

7. Challenges in Self-Discovery

• Systemic Failures:
  • The educational system and societal attitudes often label underperformers as failures, crushing confidence and ambition, making them more susceptible to criminal paths.
    • "He was not good in class... Everything he does, they say he’s not good at it... These people are those ones prone to getting to this act, the scam." – C [07:41]
• Desire for Importance:
  • The “superiority complex” – some resort to fraud just to gain status and respect denied to them through other means.

8. Personal Accounts & Real-Life Examples

• First-Hand Observations:
  • C shares experiences of friends from school, noting that most of those labeled as failures have ended up as scammers, reinforcing the idea that societal neglect and negative reinforcement drive youth toward crime.
    • “After JHS... the last six, we called them big six... I say four of them are scammers.” – C [08:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media's Influence:
  "Unrealistic expectations that is being set by social media and you have these kids...who don’t know how to reach those expectations." – B [01:44]

• On The Psychology of Scamming:
  "You are literally talking to a machine. There’s a human there, but you’re talking to a machine. You don’t internalize that there’s a human being..." – B [03:42]

• On Justifying Fraud:
  "They will give a solid excuse: if I didn’t do this, mom would have died, my brother wouldn’t have..." – C [05:03]

• On Alternatives and Personal Growth:
  "Find the thing that you are interested in or that is your unique advantage... work towards that and build that up." – B [06:00-06:55]

• On Systemic Issues:
  "Since childhood... everything he does, they say he's not good at it... He feels like he can't do anything." – C [07:54]

• On Growing Up with Failure Labels:
  "These six guys... four of them are scammers... we didn't let them find something they are good at." – C [08:51]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:40] – Societal programming and economic hopelessness
• [01:26] – When internet scams enter young people's consciousness
• [01:44] – Social media’s impact and raised expectations
• [02:14] – Skills transfer and ‘godfather’ influence
• [03:42] – Moral ambiguity and psychological distance
• [04:41] – Poverty, hunger, and desperation as motivators
• [05:44] – Personal paths and finding unique talents
• [07:41] – Systemic failures in education and their consequences
• [08:51] – Real-life outcome: former classmates and the lure of scamming

Conclusion

This episode of Konnected Minds offers a candid and multi-faceted discussion on why some young Ghanaians feel pushed into internet fraud. While poverty and desperation create fertile ground for these choices, social media’s unrealistic standards, peer influences, and systemic neglect exacerbate the problem. However, there’s hope in personal agency—by discovering and honing individual strengths, young people can carve out positive, fulfilling paths for themselves. The conversation is both a sobering reflection and a motivational call for alternative ways to achieve success and self-worth.