Blackmail is the act of demanding money or another benefit from someone in order to stop revealing a compromising information or secret about them. Cambridge Dictionary defines blackmailing as the “act of getting money from people or forcing them to do something by threatening to tell a secret of theirs or to harm them”.

It is a form of betrayal, breach of trust, an exploitative behaviour and a criminal offense in many jurisdictions. What makes it wrong is the motivations of the offenders.

1. Blackmailers “demand” a favour from the victims, “force” or “coerce” them to do things against their will.
2. Blackmailers threaten their victims causing them undue stress
3. Blackmailer exploit the victims to their advantage

Typically the victims are more powerful, wealthier or in vulnerable positions.

In the age of social media and in societies like Ghana where law enforcement is weak and literacy on social norms, appropriate behaviours, respect for human dignity, the importance of preserving privacy and cyber monitoring are virtually lacking, blackmailing is being used as a weapon to humiliate, ruin reputations and cause undue harm to many.

I have seen adults do that to their spouses, ex-partners, boyfriends, girlfriends or mere friends? Why do people think that is okay? Why are people so cruel and heartless?

A story I saw this am motivated me to write this. An apparent Minister of State whose private video call with an apparent girlfriend is being circulated on social media to blackmail the gentleman? Is the purpose to undermine the man? Disgrace him or to extort money?

I have observed many people mostly Ghanaians, record private conversations of friends and other associates without their consent, only to be released online or to others purposely to undermine or betray the victims. This is a society that prides itself as religious with majority being christians and muslims.

How’s this moral or ethical? How is this right? It definitely connotes ill intent, dishonesty and abuse of trust and element of criminality especially when money or favours are demanded.

Where is the society that thrives on moral decay, deceit and such diabolic acts heading? What good or value does that add to the society? Who can we trust in our dealings? Who should we not have a phone call with? Who should we avoid going into a relationship with? How do we identify who is ill intended and who can be trusted? Tough isn’t it?

As individuals, we should be aware of the evil in some or the bad in any of us. Your privacy is your security and closely tied to your dignity, integrity and the security of your person. Protect it always and do due diligence always in your conversations, relationships, business dealings with others. Assess the people you deal with closely before getting personal or revealing anything private.

In the developed world, a complaint can lodged with various human rights tribunals and privacy commissioners if someone releases, discloses or distributes your personal information without your prior consent.

Guard your privacy and your personhood.

Best wishes,

Akosua G

January 12, 2020