The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adam Sukparu, MP, has launched the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project (NCMCCBP), calling for stronger collaboration among government, the media, security agencies and development partners to build a secure, resilient and inclusive digital Ghana.
‎‎The project, launched on behalf of the Sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George, MP, at the National Communications Authority (NCA) Towers in Accra on Monday, seeks to equip community media practitioners with the knowledge and practical skills to educate the public on cyber hygiene, online safety, digital fraud prevention and responsible online behaviour.
‎‎The initiative brings together government institutions, security agencies, development partners, media practitioners and civil society organisations to strengthen Ghana’s cyber resilience through public education, knowledge sharing and collaboration.
‎‎Delivering the Sector Minister’s address, Hon. Sukparu said cybersecurity remained central to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda, stressing that the rapid adoption of digital technologies must be matched by trust, security and resilience.
‎‎He noted that cybersecurity had evolved beyond a purely technological issue to become an economic, governance, national security and development priority.
‎‎The Deputy Minister identified mobile money fraud, identity theft, online impersonation, misinformation, cyber-enabled crime and child online protection as growing threats that required greater public awareness and coordinated action.
‎‎He underscored the strategic importance of community media, particularly community radio stations, in reaching rural and underserved communities in local languages with cybersecurity education.
‎‎Mr Sukparu urged journalists to regard cybersecurity reporting as a public service, noting that accurate reporting and sustained public education could help prevent cybercrime and strengthen national resilience.
‎He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that brings together Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Cyber Security Authority, law enforcement agencies, academia, the private sector, civil society, development partners, technology companies and the media.
‎‎Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Mr Divine Selase Agbeti, said the increasing sophistication of cybercrime demanded closer collaboration among government, law enforcement agencies, the media and other stakeholders to safeguard Ghana’s cyberspace.
‎‎He observed that cybercrime had become a major threat, with offences including mobile money fraud, online investment scams, romance fraud, identity theft, extortion, business email compromise and impersonation increasingly being perpetrated by organised criminal networks operating across borders.
‎‎Mr Agbeti said the CSA, working with the Ghana Police Service, national security agencies and international partners, had intensified operations against criminal networks, leading to arrests and prosecutions that reflected the organised nature of cybercrime.
‎‎He described the media as an indispensable partner in combating cybercrime and stressed the need for journalists to understand cybersecurity issues and communicate them accurately and responsibly.
‎‎According to him, the project would establish a national network of media professionals capable of translating complex cybersecurity information into practical guidance for the public.
‎”Our vision is simple: every Ghanaian should have the knowledge to stay safe,” Mr Agbeti said, urging participants to apply the training to help protect citizens from falling victim to cybercrime.
‎‎The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ghana, His Excellency Pavel BÃlek, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s cybersecurity efforts, describing Ghana as a priority partner in Africa in the field of cybersecurity.
‎‎He said cooperation between the two countries had expanded over several years through professional exchanges, specialised training, technical assistance and the provision of advanced cybersecurity equipment.
‎‎The support, he explained, was aimed at strengthening the capacity of Ghanaian investigators to extract, process and analyse digital evidence to improve the quality of evidence presented before the courts.
‎‎Ambassador BÃlek said effective cybersecurity capacity building required more than technology, emphasising that it depended on expertise, appropriate tools, continuous training and long-term partnerships.
‎‎He welcomed the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project, describing it as a significant initiative linking cybersecurity, media development and responsible public communication.
‎‎He added that the fight against cybercrime could not be left solely to law enforcement agencies, stressing that citizens must be empowered to recognise digital threats while journalists continue to report cybersecurity issues accurately and responsibly.
