Dr. Divine Selase Agbeti with other dignitaries at the conference
Ghana recorded 4,938 cyber security incidents resulting in estimated financial losses of GH¢209.7 million between January and September 2026, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Divine Selase Agbeti, has disclosed.
He said the losses recorded within the first nine months of this year represented a sharp increase from the more than GH¢22.5 million reported in 2025, when the Authority recorded 4,604 cyber security incidents. Dr. Agbeti made the disclosure at the Cyber Secure Volta Regional Conference, held under the theme, “Awareness Delayed is Loss Multiplied.”
He cautioned, however, that the figures represented only incidents reported to the Authority, explaining that several victims of online fraud, blackmail, sextortion and cyberbullying remained silent because of fear, embarrassment and concerns about public ridicule.
Dr. Agbeti identified human error and social engineering as major factors contributing to cybercrime, urging individuals and institutions to adopt responsible digital practices and remain vigilant against suspicious online activities. He stressed that cyber security awareness must become part of everyday life as more Ghanaians embrace digital platforms for financial transactions, communication and other services.
He also announced that the CSA would establish an office in the Volta Region before the end of 2026 to strengthen collaboration with law enforcement agencies and improve responses to cybercrime cases. According to him, specialised enforcement mechanisms had been established to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of offenders, with some suspects, including individuals operating from parts of the Volta Region, already arrested and prosecuted.
The CSA Director-General warned residents against allowing their communities to become safe havens for cybercriminals, noting that some criminal syndicates relocated to peaceful areas to evade detection. He urged the public to report suspicious activities, particularly where individuals engaged in questionable online operations without apparent legitimate sources of income, and encouraged residents to adopt the principle, “If you see something, say something.”
He said the public could report suspected cybercrime incidents by contacting the Authority on short code 292, which he indicated was available 24 hours a day. He further cautioned mobile money users, internet banking customers and digital wallet operators against fraud, advising them to verify payment requests, avoid suspicious links and never disclose their passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs) or one-time passwords to unauthorised persons.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, commended the CSA for intensifying public education on cyber security, noting that technology had become central to modern life, particularly in banking, education, communication and public service delivery. He said the benefits of digitalisation could only be fully realised if individuals and institutions took deliberate steps to understand and manage the associated risks.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor Lydia Aziato, said cyber security was critical to the university because of its reliance on digital platforms for teaching, administration, examinations and engagements with international partners.
She urged staff to use strong passwords, protect confidential information, update their devices regularly, verify suspicious messages and payment requests, and promptly report suspected cyber incidents to safeguard institutional and personal data.
The Executive Director of Genius IT Foundation, Desmond Kitsi, also called for sustained public education on online safety, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration among institutions and communities to combat cybercrime.
Dr. Agbeti urged participants to take personal responsibility for their digital security, make cyber security a priority in their institutions and share safety information with family members, friends and neighbours, particularly those with limited knowledge of technology. He stressed that Ghana’s digital future depended on collective responsibility, adding that citizens must be able to access online services and conduct digital transactions with confidence and without fear of cyber attacks.
FROM Daniel K. Orlando, Ho
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