As Ghana advances rapidly in digital transformation, MTN Ghana has intensified calls for responsible technology use, emphasizing the urgent need to protect children and families from the growing risks of online harm. This message resonated powerfully during the company’s Bright Conversations Series held this week, which brought together key voices from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), the private sector, and the technology community to address the nation’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
Moderated by Jacqueline Hanson-Kotei, Senior Manager for Enterprise Information Security and Governance at MTN Ghana, the event convened cybersecurity experts including Isaac Socrates Mensah, Senior Manager at the CSA, and Seth Gyapong-Oware, Senior Manager for Legal and Compliance at the CSA. The dialogue centered on how Ghana can balance its digital progress with strong cyber resilience and public awareness to protect citizens—particularly children—who are increasingly online.
Speaking at the session, Mr. Mensah cautioned that Ghana’s rising dependence on digital tools such as mobile money, e-commerce platforms, and online learning systems has also exposed citizens to new forms of cybercrime. He revealed that most recent incidents reported to the Cyber Security Authority involve socially engineered scams—crimes that exploit human behavior rather than system vulnerabilities.
“Cybersecurity is no longer about hacking systems—it’s about deceiving people,” Mr. Mensah stressed. “Many Ghanaians are falling victim to psychological manipulation instead of technical breaches. People are deceived, not hacked. That’s why public awareness remains our most powerful weapon.”
The CSA, he disclosed, has handled nearly 300 cybercrime cases this year alone, most of which involve fraudsters preying on trust and curiosity through phone calls, messages, and fake websites. He underscored that combating such crimes requires not only technical solutions but also a culture of digital responsibility and vigilance across all levels of society.
Turning his attention to the safety of children online, Mr. Mensah described digital parenting as one of the most critical issues of the modern age. He cautioned that improper device setups and lack of parental supervision often expose young users to harmful content or predatory interactions.
“Parents must take charge of their children’s digital lives,” he warned. “Setting up a child’s device using an adult account automatically removes vital safety filters. Every parent should learn to activate parental controls and guide their children’s online experience.”
He shared a sobering example from an international case where a teenager was manipulated by an AI chatbot into self-harm, stressing that such incidents highlight the urgent need for proactive parental engagement in digital spaces. “Giving a child a smartphone without supervision is like handing them the keys to the world without a map or compass,” he added.
To further strengthen the country’s defense against online fraud, Mr. Mensah revealed that the CSA, in collaboration with mobile network operators, is developing a new national framework to link each SIM card to its registered device. This initiative aims to curb SIM-related fraud by ensuring that devices associated with cybercrime are blacklisted and disabled across all networks.
“We want to make digital fraud expensive and unattractive,” he said. “If a device is used for fraudulent activities, it will be rendered useless anywhere in Ghana. That’s how we deter repeat offenses.”
Echoing his colleague’s remarks, Mr. Seth Gyapong-Oware emphasized that cybersecurity requires collective action, urging cooperation between regulators, telecommunications providers, technology developers, and citizens. “No single institution can secure the digital ecosystem alone,” he noted. “Our National Cybersecurity Agenda depends on education, collaboration, and shared responsibility.”
MTN Ghana, for its part, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting digital literacy and online safety for all users. In a statement, the company explained that the Bright Conversations Series forms part of its broader mission to empower Ghanaians with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the digital world safely.
“At MTN, we believe that progress in the digital world must be anchored on trust, safety, and shared responsibility,” the statement read. “We will continue to collaborate with the Cyber Security Authority and other partners to promote safe and responsible connectivity across Ghana.”
Ms. Hanson-Kotei added that the company is expanding its public awareness campaigns, strengthening data protection measures, and supporting national cybersecurity initiatives to create a safer digital environment for all.
“Digital transformation is undoubtedly Ghana’s future,” she said. “But that future must be built on trust—and trust can only be earned through safety, awareness, and responsible use of technology.”
The session concluded with a renewed national call to action for parents, educators, businesses, and policymakers to embrace digital responsibility as a shared duty. As MTN Ghana and the Cyber Security Authority continue to lead the conversation, it is clear that safeguarding the next generation online will be key to securing Ghana’s digital future.
