President John Mahama has promised that Ghana will strengthen its fight against cybercrime by working closely with international partners. He stressed that anyone involved in romance scams or online fraud, whether Ghanaian or foreign, will face the full punishment of the law.
According to him, collaboration with global agencies has already helped Ghana deal with romance scams, which are becoming common across borders. He assured citizens that this partnership will continue to ensure that cybercriminals are handed over to the right authorities for prosecution.
The President also revealed that some insiders within financial institutions had been caught helping cybercriminals. These employees take advantage of their positions to manipulate financial systems for illegal activities.
He explained that the Bank of Ghana and cybersecurity agencies have already arrested some of these insiders. In such cases, punishment has been swift to serve as a deterrent to others.
Beyond romance scams and financial crimes, the President also raised concerns about the increase of hate speech online. He warned that messages promoting division and hostility among ethnic groups could threaten peace and unity in the country.
He noted that the Cybersecurity Authority and related agencies must pay closer attention to such dangerous online activities. Hate speech, he said, has the potential to destabilise Ghana if not controlled in time.
Already, some Ghanaians involved in cybercrime have been extradited to the United States through cooperation with the FBI. This shows how seriously international partners are working with Ghana to bring offenders to justice.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Sam George, said the government is preparing new legal measures to strengthen the fight against cybercrime. His ministry is working with the Attorney-General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice to set up specialised courts.
These specialised courts will focus only on cybercrime cases to speed up trials and ensure justice is delivered quickly. According to the minister, this is important because cybercrime cases often involve complex evidence that needs expert handling.
He also explained that the Cybersecurity Act 2020, Act 1038, is currently under review to keep it effective against modern threats. The review will make the law more responsive, forward-looking, and capable of addressing new challenges in the digital world.
This year alone, the Cybersecurity Authority working with the Police CID has arrested hundreds of suspects involved in online fraud. The government believes that with stronger laws and special courts, these cases will be resolved much faster.
The President and the Minister both made it clear that Ghana is taking cybercrime seriously at every level. From romance scams to hate speech, the government is determined to protect citizens, secure financial systems, and maintain national unity.
Source : MYJOYONLINE.COM
