President John Mahama has committed to enhancing cooperation with international partners to ensure that both citizens and foreigners involved in romance scams and other types of cybercrime are held accountable under the law.
During the launch of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month and the establishment of the Joint Cyber Security Committee, the President stated that romance scams and financial crimes will not be accepted, regardless of whether they are perpetrated by Ghanaians or foreigners.
“Some are romance scams, and we have recently been working with our international partners, and we will keep collaborating with all our global partners. Anyone involved in romance scams, whether a foreigner or a Ghanaian citizen, will be handed over for trial and appropriate punishment,” he said.
He also mentioned that some insiders within financial institutions have been caught supporting cybercrime activities.
“Some individuals are employed in financial institutions, and they manage to exploit the system due to their positions. The Bank of Ghana and cybersecurity agencies have apprehended a few of these individuals, and penalties are usually imposed quickly,” he remarked.
The President expressed concerns about the increase in online hate speech, warning that it could threaten national unity.
“There are also other forms like hate speech that create divisions among people, posting messages that pit one ethnic group against another.
This is becoming quite common, and it is something that our Cybersecurity Authority and related agencies need to address,” he warned.
This year, several prominent Ghanaians have already been extradited to the United States through cooperation with the FBI to face charges for alleged involvement in cybercrime.
Furthermore, Sam George, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, announced that his ministry is partnering with the Attorney-General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice to create specialized courts for cybercrime cases.
“Given the changing landscape of cybersecurity and the necessity to stay ahead of threats, the Ministry is currently reviewing the Cybersecurity Act 2020, Act 1038, to make sure our laws are strong, responsive, forward-thinking, and able to tackle new threats,” he stated.
He mentioned that the Cybersecurity Authority, in collaboration with the Police CID, has already apprehended hundreds of suspects this year alone.
“To ensure quick prosecution, we are closely collaborating with the Office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice to set up a specialized court for cybercrime matters,” he added.