Between January and April 2025, the CSA recorded a slight increase in reported cases but a significant jump in financial losses, amounting to GH¢499,044—nearly five times the GH¢103,663 recorded over the same period in 2024.

According to the CSA, cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including fake social media profiles and romantic scams, to lure victims. After gaining trust, the perpetrators solicit explicit content and later use it to extort money—often continuing their threats even after payments are made.

The CSA advises the public to avoid engaging with strangers online, especially those who quickly request intimate content. Victims are urged not to pay any ransom but instead preserve evidence and report incidents to the Authority.

The CSA also reminded Ghanaians to keep their social media accounts private, avoid storing nude content on their devices, and seek emotional support if they become victims.

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The public is encouraged to forward any audio, photos, social media accounts, or other digital evidence of individuals promoting violence or unrest in Bawku and surrounding regions.

These materials will be promptly examined for further action.

Information can be sent via WhatsApp to the following number: 050 160 3111.

Additionally, the taskforce plans to meet with ambassadors and high commissioners from countries where some of the social media instigators may reside, to facilitate the reporting of these individuals and request their extradition to Ghana.

These individuals will face charges under anti-terrorism laws and international conventions relating to genocide, both of which are considered serious crimes under international law.

President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Cyber Security Authority to collaborate with National Security in efforts to combat the use of social media to incite and escalate violent conflicts in Bawku in the Upper East Region and Walewale in the North East Region.

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This milestone marks a significant turning point for the company, solidifying its position as a leader in the cybersecurity landscape.

According to Corporate Manager of Oduma Solution Limited, Kwabena Agyenim-Boateng the accreditation is a testament to the company’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of digital transactions and information exchange.

“As we embrace the digital age, companies must prioritize cybersecurity to avoid devastating cyber-attacks,” he emphasized.

Oduma Solution Limited is dedicated to providing top-notch cybersecurity measures to organizations, enhancing the security of electronic transactions and boosting economic gains.

With a team of experts, the company offers tailored solutions that address specific client needs, leveraging cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.

As a wholly-owned Ghanaian company, Oduma Solution Limited is proud to be at the forefront of the country’s cybersecurity revolution.

“We’re committed to empowering businesses to thrive in the digital era, secure in the knowledge that their critical assets are protected,” Agyenim-Boateng added.

This accreditation is a resounding endorsement of Oduma Solution Limited’s expertise and dedication to excellence.

As the company continues to push the boundaries of cybersecurity innovation, it’s clear that they’re setting a new standard for the industry.

This milestone marks a significant step towards enhancing Ghana’s digital security and resilience.

In a speech read on behalf of the Director-General of CSA, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the Head of National Computer Emergency Response emphasized the Authority’s commitment to regulating cybersecurity activities under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).

He highlighted the importance of licensing and accreditation in ensuring that CSPs, CEs, and CPs operate with utmost good faith and comply with applicable laws.

The CSA has registered 252 CSPs, 65 CEs, and 1,451 CPs, with many more at various stages of the application process.

The Authority cautioned that, registering for a license or accreditation is only the first step and urged registrants to ensure they meet all requirements and complete the application forms.

The ceremony also served as a reminder that providing cybersecurity services without a license or performing cybersecurity-related professional functions without accreditation is a contravention of Act 1038, and defaulters will face appropriate sanctions.

The CSA is working with stakeholders to ensure compliance with guidelines pursuant to Act 1038 and has commenced the process of establishing an Industry Forum to shape policy and regulatory activities.

The Authority congratulated all recipients and urged them to actively participate in the upcoming National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2024, which aims to educate the public, reinforce best practices, and advance Ghana’s resilience against cyber threats.

This achievement reaffirms the CSA’s dedication to building a digitally resilient Ghana and demonstrates the commitment of CSPs, CEs, and CPs to Ghana’s cybersecurity development.

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Following a March 2024 alert, which noted a 254% year-on-year rise in such incidents for the first two months of the year, an additional 141 reports were filed between March and June. So far this year, 226 cases have been recorded, resulting in a total loss of GH¢ 112,209.

Cyber Security Authority exposed the modus operandi of these blackmailers, which involves initiating friendships on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok before moving the conversation to WhatsApp.

Over time, the malicious actors develop these friendships into intimate relationships, luring targeted individuals into making nude video calls on WhatsApp, which are secretly recorded.

The CSA has issued several recommendations to protect against such incidents.

They advise being wary of quickly progressing online relationships, especially those leading to requests for intimate content.

Individuals are urged not to share such content, avoid accepting online friend requests from unknown individuals, and be cautious of video calls from strangers on social media platforms.

The CSA also recommended using strong passwords to protect sensitive data, using only reputable mobile device repair services, and avoiding the capture or storage of nude images or videos on personal devices.

They cautioned against unsolicited messages or offers, particularly those promising money or business opportunities.

The CSA continues to monitor the situation and urges the public to report any suspicious activities.

Find attached press release below:

In a press release, the CSA revealed that so far, they have received about 130 reports of cyberbullying from victims who signed up for these apps they say are not sanctioned by the Bank of Ghana and the Data Protection Commission to operate.

“When a user installs the App, an amount (usually less than GHS 200) is automatically credited into the user’s mobile money wallet even without an actual loan request.”

“One week after disbursing the loan, the fraudsters use extortion tactics including: Demanding loan repayment with high interest rates from the victim or an associate, threatening to circulate actual or fabricated nude photos of the victim on social media and threatening to label the victim as a thief or wanted criminal.”

“Even after victims repay, some fraudsters continue to demand additional payment. Victims would typically have granted these Apps access to their data (contacts, photos) and personally identifiable information (PII) e.g., Ghana card ID, during the installation,” the CSA disclosed.

The loan apps the CSA found culpable include Ahomka Loan, Antcredit, Beanloan, Bestloan, BezoMoney, Boomloan, Casharrow, Cashwave, Cmgh Loan, Cosycredit, Credit Bag, Divacash, Express Loan, Five Loan, FullCredit, Homecredit, Unik Credit and many others.

The Authority noted that the activities of these loan apps are in contravention of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930) according to Bank of Ghana (BoG) notice BG/GOV/SEC/2022/10.

“In addition, the owners of the Apps have not met the compliance obligations of the Data Protection Commission (DPC) and hence their access and use of the data and PII of users violate the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843),” they added.

The CSA called on the general public to not only stay away from these apps but also report any Cybersecurity/Cybercrime incident to the Authority via text, call or email.

Read the full statement below:

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In a statement, the Authority revealed that 187 reports have been recorded as of April 2024.

The number according to CSA matches the total number reported in 2023.

The statement explained that, victims are being tricked into sharing their WhatsApp verification codes with malicious actors, leading to these breaches.

WhatsApp users have therefore been urged to remain vigilant and avoid sharing verification codes with anyone.

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Read the Authority’s full statement below:

He said ongoing was the development of a legislative instrument to support the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), with which United Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other partners were greatly involved.

The Director-General said this at the launch of the 2024 edition of the National Cybersecurity Challenge (NCC) in Accra, which marks a milestone of an event that has imparted the third knowledge to thousands of school children across the country.

The theme for this year’s edition is “Empowering young minds, creating opportunities, promoting a safer digital Ghana.”

This initiative is aimed at promoting cyber safety and awareness among high school students by providing them with first-hand experiences in identifying, preventing, and mitigating digital threats, especially online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Dr Antwi-Boasiako said the development of the National Child Online Protection (COP) Framework, was currently before Cabinet, and the development of guidelines to support child online protection initiatives, the annual Africa Safer Internet Day (ASID) in February, among others.

He said over the last 10 years, children and young adults had consistently been the two groups found most likely to go online.

“According to Statista, a global research platform, as of January 2024, an estimated 24.06 million Ghanaians were connected to the internet, with 7.60 million active on social media,” he added.

He said currently, Ghana was ranked eighth globally on daily time spent on social media with online child sexual exploitation and abuse among the top 10 cyber crimes in the world, and that this figure was expected to increase in the coming years if attention was not given to child online safety.

The Director-General said UNICEF and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), had reported that almost 22,000 reports of child sexual abuse material that were accessed, shared, or produced in 2022 were from Ghana.

“In that same year, the Child Online Protection Division of the CSA conducted a survey in selected senior high schools in the Greater Accra region, aiming to collect information about the online habits, risks, and vulnerabilities of students using the internet”

“The key findings of the survey established that about 64.35 per cent reported receiving pornographic materials in various forms, including images, words, and videos,” he added.

He said another concerning statistic established that 55.90 per cent of students admitted to interacting with strangers they met online, highlighting the potential dangers of online meetings.

Dr Antwi-Boasiako said as a flagship programme of the Authority, it had been decided that the Challenge was run by a National Steering Committee to give it a national character and the needed impetus.

He urged their partners to be part of the Committee when called upon to support this exercise, calling civil societies, the media, businesses, and stakeholders across the country to support the event to empower children and to help keep them safe online.

Madam Joyce Odame, a Representative from UNICEF, expressed excitement for the innovative approach employed by the CSA to enhance the knowledge of all and sundry to stay smart in the online space.

She called on other relevant stakeholders to join the journey by supporting to equip the next generation to know how to use the digital space to their advantage.

These incidents have collectively led to a financial loss amounting to approximately GH¢2,404,161.

Attributing some of these cybercrimes to the festive seasons such as Easter and Ramadan, the CSA cautioned the public to be diligent in their online activities.

“Be cautious of unsolicited messages offering exciting or ‘too good to be true deals” the statement added.

Find the statement below:

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The Authority says it has received 194 cases of online fraud with a total loss of about GH¢ 2,404,161 between January and March this year.

Therefore it is reminding the public to exercise caution and due diligence in their online activities during the Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

These frauds are perpetuated through online shopping scams and phishing scams.

The CSA in a public alert notice cautioned the general public of “too good to be true” deals related to the festive season.

“Use a reputable online marketplace or retailer when purchasing items or gifts. Check on the official website or with reliable sources to validate the contact details of the shop you are searching for.”

“Insist on payment only after delivery and inspection and ensure that mobile money payments are made to wallets in the name of the online shop you are dealing with.”

“Do not share personal information such as your Ghana card number, credit card information, or bank account details with anyone,” the Authority cautioned.

Read full statement below:

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In its latest press release dated February 19, 2024, the CSA announced that it had registered a total of 1,137 Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs), 194 Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), and 52 Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs), bringing the overall number of registrants to 1,383.

While some entities have received provisional licenses, others are at various stages of the licensing and accreditation process.

Under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), all existing CSPs, CEs, and CPs are mandated to obtain licenses or accreditation by December 31, 2023. Entities operating without proper authorization are prohibited from conducting business in Ghana.

The CSA reaffirmed its dedication to enforcing the provisions of Act 1038, cautioning that individuals and businesses offering cybersecurity services without proper licensing or accreditation will face legal consequences, including administrative penalties and criminal prosecutions.

To streamline the licensing and accreditation process, the CSA has set up a dedicated clinic at its premises in Accra, aimed at assisting qualified CSPs, CEs, and CPs in completing the online application process. The clinic operates every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of the first quarter of 2024.

In a bid to ensure compliance across sectors, the CSA has also collaborated with the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to ensure that public institutions seeking cybersecurity services engage only licensed and accredited entities. Additionally, partnerships with the Judicial Service of Ghana aim to enforce Act 1038 in all relevant legal proceedings.

Businesses and individuals seeking cybersecurity services are advised to verify the licensing or accreditation status of entities through the CSA’s online authentication system or by directly contacting the authority for due diligence purposes.

These measures highlight the CSA’s commitment to regulatory compliance and safeguarding Ghana’s digital ecosystem in line with domestic laws and international best practices.

Full press release below:

An amount of 3,558,940 cedis was lost through online shopping and scams were lost last year’s total losses recorded.

These cons are perpetuated through shopping fraud, brand impersonation, phishing scams, and romance scams.

The CSA in a public alert notice cautioned the general public of “too good to be true” vals packages and gifts.

They also advised potential buyers to use “a reputable online marketplace or retailer when purchasing Valentine’s Day gifts.”

“Be alert for fake online shops and hyped adverts, especially on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. In most cases, request a physical location to enable you to validate the legitimacy of the business,” they added.

Full public alert below:

According to GAB, bank customers must desist from sending pictures of items that reveal identity numbers and bank accounts to prevent fraud and scams.

“Never send a picture of your Ghana Card or any of your Bank’s cards such as debit, Visa, and Mastercard via WhatsApp to any anyone purporting to be from your bank. If in doubt, contact your bank or Relationship Manager directly”, the statement said.

In recent times, there have been an increase in fraudulent activities in the financial sector, leading to loss of money.

The Bank of Ghana has already directed banks to improve cyber security to curb the growing canker.  The banks have also assured the public of tightening security to expose such acts.

Ultimately, it is expected that the general public will be vigilant and also report such cases to the appropriate authorities.

Cyber Security Authority issues alert

Recently, the Cyber Security Authority raised alarm over a sharp rise in job scam incidents across the country.

In a public alert statement, the CSA stated that it has received at least 15 reports through the cybercrime/cyber security incident reporting points of contact with victims losing over GH₵124,000.

According to the CSA, citizens ought to beware of unsolicited messages offering job opportunities as these scammers tend to pose as recruiters to fleece unsuspecting people.

The CSA added that, people must be skeptical of advertisements that promise high-paying jobs that require minimal work.

“If it seems too good to be true, it’s likely a scam,” the CSA stated.

The action which took effect from January 1 follows the expiration of a December 31, 2023, deadline for these groups to obtain a license or accreditation to operate lawfully.

“The CSA will fully enforce the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038)
regarding its mandate to regulate CSPs, CPs and CEs. Accordingly, CSPs, CEs and CPs
who offer cybersecurity services without a license or accreditation granted by the
Authority, do so in contravention of Act 1038 and will face the full rigors of the Law
including criminal prosecutions and administrative penalties where applicable.

“Institutions and individuals are consequently advised to engage only licensed CSPs and accredited CEs and CPs,” a statement issued by the Authority read.

To ascertain whether an entity or individual has been granted a license or accreditation,
CSA has said the certificate number of the entity or individual can be authenticated online at
https://www.csa.gov.gh/licence.

The Authority may also be contacted via email: compliance@csa.gov.gh or Telephone: 0531140408.

Ghana becomes the first country in Africa and second globally, after Singapore to have
taken such a bold and giant step to develop the cybersecurity industry in this regard.

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Read the full statement below:

This was in a joint operation between the Cyber Security Committee, Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Economic Organised Crime Office.

The swoop was conducted in various parts of Accra on Monday.

The Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday.

Dr Antwi-Boasiako disclosed some items retrieved from the suspects included mobile phones, laptops, internet routers and other valuable information.

He explained the arrest followed the identification of 150 unlicensed loan apps after receiving 270 complaints.

The BoG in June 2023 cautioned the public against the operation of some online Apps operating without authorisation.

The Central Bank listed 97 of such applications and cited them for engaging in unlicensed lending activities in contravention of the Banks and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (930).

The Bank reiterated that the activities of these entities significantly breach customer data and privacy laws as well as consumer protection requirements and norms with unfavourable implications on the integrity and wellbeing of their patrons.

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