MTN Ghana has renewed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s digital ecosystem, hosting a high-level conversation on cybersecurity under its flagship Bright Conversations series.
The event called on individuals, businesses, and organisations to take collective responsibility for protecting data and promoting safe digital practices in an era of escalating online threats.
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The session brought together cybersecurity experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss emerging threats, the evolution of cyberattacks, and strategies for building a resilient digital future.
Moderated by the Senior Manager for Enterprise Information Security and Governance at MTN Ghana, Jacqueline Hanson-Kotei, the discussion featured panellists Isaac Socrates Mensah, Senior Manager at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), and Seth Gyapong-Oware, Senior Manager for Legal and Compliance at the CSA.
MTN champions cyber awareness in a digital era
Setting the tone for the discussion, Hanson-Kotei underscored MTN Ghana’s commitment to championing cybersecurity education and resilience through initiatives like Bright Conversations.
She said the platform reflects MTN’s broader mission to drive digital inclusion responsibly while ensuring that users remain safe online.
“At MTN, cybersecurity is everyone’s business. We are committed to empowering people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay protected in an increasingly connected world.”
Cyber threats shift from technology to human behaviour
Senior Manager at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Isaac Socrates Mensah revealed that most cyber incidents in Ghana today are no longer purely technical, but socially engineered — exploiting human behaviour and trust.
“Many people think cybersecurity is just about software and systems,
But most breaches begin with human actions — people clicking malicious links, sharing sensitive data, or falling for online scams. Since January alone, we’ve handled nearly 300 cybercrime cases,” he explained.
He emphasised that while regulators and service providers continue to collaborate to track and prosecute offenders, public vigilance remains the first line of defense.
“Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility,” he warned.
“We must all stay alert, verify before we click, and think before we share.”
Ghana tightens SIM and device tracking measures
Isaac Mensah also announced new national measures to combat SIM-related fraud and improve digital identification systems.
The CSA, in collaboration with mobile network operators, is developing a framework to link every mobile device to its registered SIM card — ensuring that once a fraudulent SIM is blocked, the associated device is automatically disabled across all networks.
“The idea is simple — make cyber fraud expensive and unattractive,”
Once a device is blacklisted for criminal activity, it becomes useless everywhere, ”he said.
He further revealed that Ghana will soon begin a new SIM re-registration exercise to correct verification challenges and align user data with national digital ID platforms.
Startups urged to ‘build security by design’
Isaac Mensah advised startups and small businesses to embed cybersecurity from the earliest stages of product design, warning that overlooking digital protection could jeopardise their survival.
“Technology is the backbone of every business,” he said. “Security must be built in, not bolted on. Don’t wait to be attacked before acting.”
He encouraged SMEs to invest in regular staff training, emphasising that a culture of cybersecurity awareness is as essential to business growth as innovation or marketing.
Protecting Children in the Digital Age
The forum also spotlighted the growing online risks faced by children.
Isaac Mensah cautioned parents to take an active role in their children’s digital lives, explaining that setting up devices under adult accounts exposes minors to unsafe content.
“If you set up your child’s device using your own account, the system assumes it belongs to an adult,” he said. “Creating a proper child account activates parental control and age-appropriate filters.”
He recalled a tragic international case in which a teenager was manipulated by an AI chatbot to take his own life — a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in unmonitored digital spaces.
CSA advocates collaboration and digital responsibility
Senior Manager for Legal and Compliance at the CSA, Seth Gyapong-Oware, called for stronger partnerships between government, the private sector, and international stakeholders to tackle cybercrime.
“Cybersecurity is borderless. Protecting our digital ecosystem requires cooperation, awareness, and capacity building — not just technology,” he said.
He explained that Ghana’s national cybersecurity strategy, led by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, focuses on policy reform, public education, and workforce development to ensure long-term resilience.
“To secure our digital future, we must act now,” he urged. “Technology offers freedom, but that freedom must come with responsibility.”
MTN reaffirms its cybersecurity commitment
Jacqueline Hanson-Kotei reaffirmed MTN Ghana’s leadership role in cybersecurity advocacy, pledging continued collaboration with the Cyber Security Authority and other stakeholders to build a safer digital Ghana.
“Digital safety is not just an MTN priority — it’s a shared responsibility,
“We will continue investing in education, innovation, and partnerships to create a secure and trusted digital space for all.” she said.
Through its Bright Conversations platform, MTN Ghana continues to lead national dialogue on responsible technology use, cyber resilience, and digital literacy — reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in Ghana’s digital transformation journey.
