MTN Ghana has taken a commanding lead in promoting national cybersecurity awareness, championing a united front among individuals, businesses, and government agencies to safeguard Ghana’s digital space. Through its flagship Bright Conversations series, the telecommunications giant has brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on the evolving nature of cyber threats and strategies needed to strengthen the country’s digital resilience.
The high-level engagement, moderated by Jacqueline Hanson-Kotei, Senior Manager for Enterprise Information Security and Governance at MTN Ghana, featured insightful contributions from Isaac Socrates Mensah, Senior Manager at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), and Seth Gyapong-Oware, Senior Manager for Legal and Compliance at the same institution. The discussion underscored the urgent need for collective vigilance, responsible digital behavior, and stronger inter-agency collaboration to address the increasing wave of cybercrimes targeting individuals and organizations.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Mensah highlighted a significant shift in Ghana’s cyber threat landscape, explaining that most recent incidents have stemmed from social manipulation rather than complex system breaches. He emphasized that cybercriminals now exploit human behavior, tricking unsuspecting victims into sharing personal details or clicking harmful links that compromise their data and finances. According to him, the CSA is partnering with mobile network operators to enhance data verification systems, especially to combat SIM-related fraud, and that a new SIM re-registration exercise aligned with the national digital ID system is in the pipeline to improve identity authentication.
He revealed that a new policy framework, known as the device-SIM linking system, is being developed to curb cyber fraud and illegal device usage. The initiative, he noted, will make it possible for blacklisted devices used in cybercrime to be rendered unusable across all networks, thereby making cyber fraud “expensive and unattractive.”
Mr. Mensah further urged entrepreneurs and startups to integrate cybersecurity measures into their systems from the very beginning rather than considering them as an afterthought. He stressed that in an era where technology drives every business, security must form the foundation of every digital innovation. He also encouraged small and medium enterprises to build a security-first culture through consistent employee training, risk assessments, and public education to protect their operations and customers.
The discussion also touched on the increasing exposure of children to online risks. Mr. Mensah cautioned that digital parenting must now be taken seriously as artificial intelligence and sophisticated online manipulation tactics are being used to target minors. He urged parents to create proper child accounts on devices and actively monitor their children’s online engagements, stressing that digital literacy at the family level is crucial for long-term online safety.
On his part, Mr. Seth Gyapong-Oware emphasized that cybersecurity goes beyond enforcement and must be built on effective partnerships among regulators, service providers, educators, and users. He stated that cyber threats transcend borders, making collaboration across sectors and international boundaries a necessity. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing Ghana’s national cybersecurity agenda, which focuses on policy reform, capacity building, and global cooperation to combat cyber risks.
MTN Ghana reiterated its unwavering commitment to promoting digital safety through continuous awareness campaigns and capacity-building programs under its Bright Conversations initiative. The company stated that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and reaffirmed its collaboration with the Cyber Security Authority and other stakeholders in protecting customers and strengthening the nation’s digital ecosystem.
“At MTN, digital safety is a shared responsibility,” the company noted. “We remain committed to empowering Ghanaians with the knowledge and tools to stay safe online while contributing to a trustworthy and secure digital economy.”
By creating a platform for dialogue among cybersecurity experts and thought leaders, MTN Ghana continues to demonstrate that its mission extends beyond telecommunications. The company has positioned itself as a trusted national partner in advancing responsible technology use, promoting digital trust, and championing a resilient cybersecurity culture that supports Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
