From Eric’s Diary: A Scammer’s hi

We all adored and danced to the late musician Paapa Yankson's 'Okukuseku' when he performed it. I'm willing to wager that many of you paid little attention to the lyrics and the significance of our lives.

I did so recently and found it to be quite accurate. "Suro nipa na gyae saman," said the late musician, advising us to fear our fellow humans rather than spirits. His stance was based on the age-old phenomenon of humans fleeing from what we refer to as spirits - a deceased person believed to manifest or appear to the living.

Even those who were close friends with the deceased have a tendency to flee at the site of his or her apparition, according to the legend. The fleeing individual can determine the 'purpose of visit' by the apparition only after a period of sober reflection.

Paapa Yankson would prefer that we adopt this apprehensive attitude toward our fellow humans. He explained that humans will never pass up an opportunity to injure one another, whereas a ghost's preoccupation while resting in the cemetery is figuring out how to enter paradise with open arms.


The renowned highlife musician remarked that the individual would be contending with you for the finest material possessions, engaging in boasting and foolishness. He continued by saying that when a person captures your eye, he grins, but as soon as you leave the scene, he will scold you severely. Paapa accurately referred to such individuals as "killer cum savior" - "Okumfodumfo"

I found the line, "Keep your door ajar, leave your money unguarded, and see who will take it, to be the most intriguing in the song. Is it a spirit or an individual? The moment you realize that it is a human being who will pilfer it, you will recognize that humans are evil. They are vicious."

A scammer's greeting

Over the years, I have come to embrace the advice of motivational speakers and ministers alike to be kind to others. I have learned the importance of wishing individuals a pleasant morning and then asking them the thoughtful inquiry, "How are you?"

As such, I place a high value on the greeting hello. Whenever I encounter a person who, in a given circumstance, should have said hello to me but did not, I resent them.

As I understand it, the term refers to a cordial greeting intended to attract attention. Consequently, if you deny me a hello, I will deny you my friendship.

I've recently observed a worrisome manifestation of the depravity of some humans, as advocated by Paapa Yankson, in the use of "hi" by WhatsApp fraudsters. Clearly, they are aware of the welcoming and engaging nature of this greeting and are employing it.

The trend is for a purportedly beautiful young woman to type hello and then exit the conversation. If you disregard them, they will return with a greeting. They will continue until you respond. I initially disregarded them. On three occasions, however, I decided to see what they had in store for me. The subsequent conversation ensued.