Ghana is significantly bolstering its efforts to combat the escalating threat of cybercrime, with President John Dramani Mahama leading a strong commitment from his administration to clamp down on various online illicit activities. This renewed focus was prominently highlighted at the official launch of the 2025 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which underscored the urgent need for a safe and secure digital space for all citizens.

President Mahama specifically warned perpetrators of romance scams, insider fraud within financial institutions, and online hate speech that they will face severe consequences. He emphasized Ghana's intensifying cooperation with international partners to curb the rising trend of online scams, stating, "Recently, we’ve been collaborating with our international partner regarding romance scams. When evidence is gathered and it’s proven that people are involved in romance scams, using our extradition treaties, we ship the culprits back. We’ll continue to collaborate with all our global partners. Anybody involved in romance scams, whether you are a foreigner or a Ghanaian citizen, we will hand you over to be tried and punished accordingly." This robust stance has already seen notable Ghanaians extradited to the United States through collaborations with agencies like the FBI.

Beyond romance scams, President Mahama also shed light on insider fraudulent activities, revealing that "some people are employed within financial institutions and they manage, because they are in there, to be able to take advantage of the system." He confirmed that the Bank of Ghana and other cybersecurity agencies have arrested several such individuals, with swift punishment being the norm. Furthermore, the President raised concerns about the proliferation of online hate speech, cautioning against deliberate attempts to inflame tensions between ethnic groups through digital platforms, which could destabilize national unity.

Complementing the President's directives, Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, announced several critical initiatives. Foremost among these is the government’s plan to establish specialized courts dedicated to the swift prosecution of cybercrime cases. This initiative, developed in close collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice, aims to strengthen Ghana's legal and institutional frameworks against cybersecurity threats. The Minister also revealed that the Cybersecurity Authority (CSA), working with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has already apprehended hundreds of suspects linked to cybercrime syndicates. To ensure legislative relevance, the Cyber Security Act 2020 (Act 1038) is currently under review to remain robust and address emerging threats.

Further demonstrating the government's commitment, Minister George confirmed plans to establish a sustainable financing mechanism through the Cybersecurity Fund, in line with sections 29 and 30 of the Cyber Security Act 2020. This fund will guarantee financial resources for national cybersecurity programs, protect critical information infrastructure, and build capacity across all sectors. He also highlighted the human element in cyber risks, citing a study indicating that human error is the primary cause of 95% of cybersecurity breaches, emphasizing the need for user awareness and responsible digital behavior.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, the Minister for the Interior, assured the public of the Ghana Police Service's (GPS) significant progress in tackling complex digital crimes, including mobile money fraud, online impersonation, sexual extortion, and other financial cybercrimes. Speaking at the 2025 National Cyber Security Awareness Month event, Minister Muntaka outlined five key areas of advancement for the GPS: crime investigation and digital forensics, intelligence gathering and threat monitoring, capacity building and specialized training, public awareness and stakeholder engagement, and internal and inter-agency collaboration. The GPS's specialized Cybercrime and Digital Forensic Unit, equipped with a modern digital forensic laboratory, is now capable of examining seized devices to produce credible evidence for court. This proactive approach, including employing cyber intelligence and open-source intelligence techniques, has enabled the Police to uncover and neutralize cross-border criminal networks, significantly strengthening Ghana’s digital security environment.

Collectively, these comprehensive measures from various government arms underscore Ghana's unwavering determination to build a digitally resilient nation. The call for a national collaborative effort, articulated by Minister George, reinforces the idea that safeguarding the country’s growing digital ecosystem requires a unified front against domestic and international cyber threats, ensuring a safe, informed, and accountable digital space for everyone.