Govt Will Equip Community Media Against Cyber Threats- Deputy Minister as he Launches National Cyber project
The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Mohammed Adam Sukparu, has launched the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project (NCMCCBP), urging stronger collaboration among government, the media, security agencies and development partners to build a secure, resilient and inclusive digital Ghana.
Launching the initiative on behalf of the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, at the National Communications Authority (NCA) Towers in Accra on Monday, August 3, 2026, Hon. Sukparu said cybersecurity must remain at the heart of Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
The National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project is designed 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 collaboration, knowledge sharing and public awareness.
Speaking on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Sukparu stressed that the country’s growing digital economy could only thrive where trust, security and resilience existed.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technological concern. It is an economic, governance, national security and development imperative,” he stated.
He observed that the increasing incidence of mobile money fraud, identity theft, online impersonation, misinformation, cyber-enabled crime and threats to child online safety demanded greater public awareness and coordinated action.
The Deputy Minister underscored the strategic importance of community media, particularly community radio stations, in reaching rural and underserved communities with cybersecurity education in local languages.
He called on journalists to make cybersecurity reporting a public service, noting that accurate reporting and sustained public education could significantly reduce cybercrime and strengthen national resilience.
“The Government will continue to pursue a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Cyber Security Authority, law enforcement institutions, academia, the private sector, civil society, development partners, technology companies and the media,” he said.
Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, described collaboration as the most effective weapon against the growing sophistication of cybercrime.
He noted that cybercrime had evolved beyond a technical challenge into a serious threat affecting individuals, businesses and national security, citing mobile money fraud, online investment scams, romance fraud, identity theft, extortion, business email compromise and online impersonation as some of the most prevalent threats.
According to Mr. Agbeti, many of these crimes are orchestrated by organised criminal networks operating across national borders.
He disclosed that the Cyber Security Authority, working with the Ghana Police Service, national security agencies and international partners, had intensified operations against cybercriminals, resulting in arrests and prosecutions that demonstrate the organised nature of the threat.
Mr. Agbeti described the media as an indispensable partner in combating cybercrime, stressing that journalists must possess a sound understanding of cybersecurity issues to communicate them accurately and responsibly to the public.
“Our vision is simple: every Ghanaian should have the knowledge to stay safe,” he said, encouraging participants to use the training to build their expertise and help protect citizens from falling victim to cybercrime.
Also addressing the gathering, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ghana, Pavel Bílek, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s cybersecurity capacity, describing Ghana as one of the Czech Republic’s priority partners in Africa in the cybersecurity sector.
He said cooperation between the two countries had expanded over several years through professional exchanges, specialised training programmes, technical assistance and the provision of advanced cybersecurity equipment.
According to the Ambassador, the support is helping Ghanaian investigators strengthen their capacity to extract, process and analyse digital evidence while improving the quality of evidence presented in court.
He emphasised that effective cybersecurity capacity building extends beyond technology and requires expertise, training, appropriate tools and sustained partnerships.
Ambassador Bílek welcomed the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project, describing it as a timely initiative that links cybersecurity, media development and responsible public communication.
“Fighting cybercrime cannot be left to law enforcement agencies alone. Citizens must be equipped to recognise digital risks, while journalists report cyber-related issues accurately and responsibly,” he stated.
The launch of the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project marks another significant step in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen national cyber resilience by empowering community media practitioners to become frontline advocates for digital safety and cybersecurity awareness across the country.
Source: Felix NYAABA/expressnewsghana.comcy
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