By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct. 01, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday launched the National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 on the theme: “Building a Safe, Informed and Accountable Digital Space”.
The month-long programme, is being spearheaded by the Cyber Security Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry for the Interior.
It seeks to raise awareness among children, businesses, the public, and government, on the importance of protecting digital rights, combating misinformation and disinformation, and promoting the ethical and responsible use of technology.
President Mahama in his remarks at the launch in Accra said under the Reset Ghana Agenda, his administration had prioritised digital transformation as a key part of the national development policy, and cyber security was at the core of that transformation.
“When I took office in January this year, I promised the Ghanaian people that we’ll develop a modern, inclusive, and secure digital economy. That promise continues to guide my work today,” the President said.
He reiterated four flagship initiatives of the Government that were already in progress- One Million Coders Programme, Digital Jobs Initiative, FinTech Group Fund, and the 24-Hour Economy.
He said the One Million Coders Programme, which he launched in April of this year had pilot projects in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, and Upper East Region equipping thousands of the nation’s youth with tools that would prepare them not just for jobs today, but jobs of the future.
The Digital Jobs Initiative the President explained was a public-private partnership aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities through technology.
“We’re establishing regional digital centers for business process outsourcing and ICT parks to promote innovation in artificial intelligence, cyber security, and digital entrepreneurship,” he said.
With the FinTech Group Fund, the President said the Government had set aside $50 million to support indigenous startups and foster a vibrant digital finance ecosystem.
“We want Ghanaian innovators to develop solutions for Ghanaian challenges and also expand them across Africa,” he added.
The President said institutions were important, and that was why in accordance with the Cyber Security Act 2020, Act 1038, he inaugurated at the event the 18-Member the Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC) of the Cyber Security Authority.
He said the purpose of the JCC was to ensure coherence, coordination, and proactive measures in national defense against cyber threats; saying “This is a vital step”
“Cyber security must not be fragmented. It demands unity of purpose, a clear strategy, and disciplined education. cyber crime ignores borders,” he said.
“A hacker in one country can breach systems halfway across the world within seconds. And that is why Ghana cannot act alone. We must collaborate with the rest of the world.”
President Mahama said Ghana was already signatories to the Malabo Convention and the Budapest Convention on Cyber Crime. These frameworks, he said, enhanced the nation’s ability to cooperate internationally and align their laws with global standards. “This landmark treaty equips us with new tools.”
He announced that this October, Ghana would take another historic step to ratify and sign the United Nations Convention on Cyber Crime.
President Mahama said this treaty equipped them with new tools to investigate attacks, prosecute cyber criminals, and protect critical information infrastructure.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei