IMANI Africa has drawn attention to what it calls Ghana’s “growing digital weak spot,” cautioning that cybercrime could erode the foundations of the country’s economic and technological transformation.
The policy think tank, referencing official data, said the pace of digitalization is being matched by a steep rise in online criminal activities that now pose a national security and economic threat. Figures from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) show that Ghana lost GHS 14.94 million to cybercrime in the first half of 2025, a 17 percent increase from the same period in 2024.
“Ghana’s digital transformation is deepening, but with it comes a costly shadow; cybercrime – The pace and scale of the threat is casting a gloom on the country’s digitalization drive to remain both inclusive and secure”
IMANI Africa
Reported cases also jumped from 1,317 to 2,008 over the same period. When added to the GHS 23.3 million lost in 2024, Ghana’s total losses to cybercrime over the past 18 months now exceed GHS 38 million.
IMANI described these developments as a stark reminder that cybercrime is no longer an isolated concern for IT departments but a challenge capable of stalling national ambitions. The CSA noted that the country’s growing dependence on digital platforms for trade, financial services, and governance makes the situation especially alarming.
With tax collection, banking, and e-commerce increasingly migrating online, the risks extend well beyond individuals losing money. Personal, financial, and business data are now deeply integrated into Ghana’s digital economy, raising the stakes for any breach.
In a statement, the CSA warned, “Cybercrime has outgrown being just an IT inconvenience. It now threatens businesses, personal data, and national systems.” The authority explained that attacks are evolving in sophistication.
Beyond traditional mobile money fraud, criminals are impersonating companies on Google Maps, producing deepfake videos of leaders to front fake investment schemes, and tricking users into revealing one-time passwords that grant access to financial accounts.
“The duality is striking: the very platforms driving digital progress are the ones most at risk of exploitation. The costs extend beyond money. Rising incidents of fraud erode public trust in online systems and deter small businesses from digitizing operations. They also cast a shadow on Ghana’s ambitions to be a secure digital hub in West Africa”
IMANI Africa
Policy Reforms and Enforcement
To counter these risks, the government has announced plans to amend the Cybersecurity Act 2020 with provisions designed to tackle fake news and emerging risks from artificial intelligence. But IMANI argued that legislative changes alone cannot provide a sufficient safeguard.
“Enforcement capacity must be strengthened, financial institutions and telcos must face stricter compliance demands, and reporting of incidents must be encouraged to ensure data is not lost to silence. Technology can also help; AI-driven detection tools and real-time monitoring systems could provide a badly needed line of defense”
IMANI Africa
The CSA echoed this view, stressing the need for enhanced enforcement capacity. “Reporting incidents ensures critical data is not lost and trends can be better tracked,” the CSA stated.
Despite these policy efforts, IMANI identified public awareness as the weakest link in Ghana’s cybersecurity chain. Many attacks succeed because users share personal information carelessly or fall victim to phishing attempts.
For this reason, the CSA has dedicated this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month to the theme, “Building a Safe, Informed, and Accountable Digital Space.” It said the campaign will emphasize digital literacy in schools, workplace training, and community sensitization programmes as essential to building long-term resilience.
The economic implications are equally significant. Ghana Investment Promotion Centre CEO, Simon Madjie, warned that cybersecurity must be recognized not only as a technical necessity but as a foundation for attracting investment.
“Without strong defenses, the country’s ambition to be a digital hub and its broader economic transformation agenda could falter,” Madjie said. IMANI concluded that cybersecurity must be treated as a central pillar of Ghana’s economic strategy.
With the government deepening digitalization in revenue mobilization, commerce, and governance, the think tank maintained that robust cybersecurity is not optional but indispensable to ensuring national progress.
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