The story of a young Ghanaian who died in Latvia struck me the hardest.
Nana Agyei was a first-year Electrical Engineering (Adaptronics) student at Riga Technical University, having enrolled in July 2024. His life was tragically cut short on June 4, 2025.
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Latvian authorities initially reported that he fell from the sixth floor of his apartment building on Baznicas Street in Riga.
However, his family strongly disputed this account, citing a disturbing voice note he sent three days before his death, in which he claimed he had been poisoned.
They also suggested that he had been harassed by some peers at school. Even more troubling were claims that individuals who had presented themselves as friends and helpers allegedly betrayed his trust.
Whether investigations confirm these suspicions or not, the case raises a deeply unsettling question: What happens when those who claim to help become the source of harm?
Betrayal in many forms
This painful pattern is not limited to one tragic case abroad. In Ghana, similar experiences have unfolded in different forms.
Over the years, some organisations have presented themselves as financial lifelines, encouraging unsuspecting citizens to save and invest with promises of extraordinary returns. Many people deposited their hard-earned money, hoping for a better future. In the end, some of these schemes collapsed, leaving investors devastated. What appeared to be opportunity turned out to be deception.
Beyond financial schemes, there are individuals commonly known as “connection men” who promise visas and overseas opportunities.
Victims are persuaded to pay large sums of money for processing fees and travel arrangements. Once payment is made, phones are switched off, and the so-called helpers disappear.
Dreams of travel and transformation dissolve into silence.
In more disturbing cases, even acts that appear harmless — such as offering a lift — have sometimes resulted in tragic outcomes.
Trust, once given freely, becomes a dangerous vulnerability in the wrong hands.
A report by Citi Newsroom highlighted another dimension of this problem.
The Police in Kasoa arrested a suspect allegedly linked to human trafficking in Burkina Faso. According to the report, a young man was lured with promises of employment in Spain after being asked to pay GH₵10,000 for travel processing.
Instead, he was allegedly abandoned in Burkina Faso and pressured to recruit others to recover his money.
Such stories are deeply troubling. They reveal how hope, one of the most powerful human emotions can be manipulated.
Broken Trust at every level
This pattern of false pretence extends beyond individuals and criminal networks. At times, political promises have left citizens disappointed.
Campaign assurances of improved livelihoods and opportunities do not always translate into lived realities. When expectations are raised but unmet, frustration grows, and trust erodes.
Even within families, betrayal has occurred. Some relatives abroad have entrusted family members in Ghana with money to build homes on their behalf.
Upon returning, they discover that little or nothing has been done. In some cases, fake photographs are sent to create the illusion of progress. The emotional damage often outweighs the financial loss.
Trust, once broken, is difficult to restore.
The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once observed that although animals instinctively distrust humans, once they are convinced they will not be harmed, their trust becomes profound and to abuse that trust is barbaric.
His reflection speaks directly to our reality. Human beings are naturally cautious. Yet when we become convinced that someone genuinely means well, we lower our guard.
We entrust them with our money, our dreams, our relationships — sometimes even our lives.
To betray such trust is not merely dishonest; it is deeply inhumane.
Another tragic example was reported by Class FM Online in 2021. A Ghanaian deportee allegedly took his own life after reportedly being defrauded by a “connection man” who had promised to help him return to Europe.
According to reports, the financial loss contributed to severe emotional distress.
Behind every headline are shattered hopes and silent suffering.
The need for awareness
Some people attribute these deceptions to spiritual manipulation or “juju.” Whatever one believes, the practical reality remains: fraud and exploitation continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
The Ghana Police Service has repeatedly warned the public about fraudulent schemes and deceptive advertisements, particularly on social media.
Such activities are not only unethical but criminal, and they undermine public trust and national security.
The world may never be completely free from wickedness. However, awareness and caution can reduce vulnerability.
Not every smiling face carries goodwill. Not every promise is sincere. Not every opportunity is genuine.
As Scripture reminds us: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)
In a time when help can sometimes hide harm, discernment is no longer optional — it is essential.
The writer is Institutional Assessment Practitioner
