Alert! Cyber threats increasing - Minister warns
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, says the country is facing mounting cyber threats that have endangered not only businesses and state institutions but individuals and families as well.
He has consequently urged the public to treat online safety with the same urgency as physical security, as he disclosed ongoing processes to amend the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), to keep pace with emerging threats.
He was speaking at the media launch of the 2025 National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) in Accra last Wednesday.
“Safety in cyberspace must be treated with the same urgency as safety in our physical communities. Citizens deserve protection from fraud, scams, abuse and blackmail, all of which violate fundamental human rights such as privacy, dignity and security,” Mr George said.
Impact
The minister revealed that the country lost GH¢23.3 million to cybercrime in 2024, with an additional GH¢14.9 million lost in the first half of 2025 alone.
He said credentials from 35 organisations, including ministries, banks, hospitals and universities, had already surfaced on the dark web, creating potential gateways for national-level compromises.
Commending recent joint operations by the police and the Cybersecurity Authority that busted cyber fraud syndicates, he urged the public to report scams, avoid misinformation and protect their digital identities.
“Such trends also reinforce the need for citizens to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to detect, prevent, and protect themselves against cyber threats,” he said.
Law enforcement
The acting Director-General of the Cybersecurity Authority, Divine Selasi Agbeti, warned that online fraud, impersonation, blackmail and cyberbullying were rising, with reported incidents increasing from 1,317 in 2024 to 2,008 in the first half of 2025.
Financial losses have surged to GH¢14.94 million, mostly from fraud and impersonation, he said, adding that this year the authority would engage children, businesses, government and citizens to prioritise online safety and protect digital rights.
“The Awareness Month is expected to increase national awareness of the implications of cyber threats for democratic governance, national security, and individual well-being,” he said, reaffirming the authority’s commitment to drive collective national resilience against cyber threats.
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, emphasised law enforcement’s dual role of prosecuting cyber criminals and protecting citizens.
Highlighting Artificial Intelligence-driven policing tools and the AMBA Alert Ghana initiative with META, she called for sustained government investment, private sector reporting, academic research and citizen vigilance.
She reaffirmed the CID’s commitment to strengthening collaboration against cybercrime.
Private sector, academia
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Simon Madjie, stressed that cybersecurity was vital for investor confidence and economic growth.
He stated that global cybercrime losses were projected at $10.5 trillion, while Africa had lost $3 billion to cybercrimes since 2019.
Praising the nation’s Tier 1 global cybersecurity ranking, he urged stronger investment, innovation and partnerships to safeguard the country’s digital economy.
The Dean of the University of Ghana (UG) School of Engineering Sciences, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, underscored academia’s role in research, capacity-building and innovation to strengthen cybersecurity.
She urged universities to produce ethical, skilled professionals and to foster digital citizenship through education and outreach.
Stressing responsible technology adoption, she also called for collaboration among the government, industry, civil society and academia to secure the country’s digital future.
