By: Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that 20% of all reported cyber incidents worldwide have targeted the financial sector, causing direct losses of more than $12 billion since 2020. He added that cyber-related losses are now estimated at over $2.5 billion, describing the figures as “staggering.”
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 National Cyber Security Awareness Month in Accra on Wednesday October 1, 2025, President Mahama warned that the impact of cybercrime goes beyond money, leading to lost jobs, lost trust, and in some cases, even lost lives.
He stressed that Ghana is not immune, as the country has recorded cases of cyber fraud, phishing, identity theft, and other digital crimes that harm both individuals and businesses.
The President said as Ghana expands digital public services and mobile money usage, it is important to strengthen systems that protect them. He said under the ‘Reset Ghana’ Agenda, his administration has made digital transformation a key part of national development, with cybersecurity at the center of that policy.
Outlining some of his flagship initiatives, President Mahama highlighted the ‘One Million Coders’ Programme, launched in April 2025, which seeks to train one million young Ghanaians in coding, data analytics, software engineering, and cybersecurity. Pilot projects in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, and Upper East regions are already training thousands of youth for the digital economy.
He also mentioned the ‘Digital Job Initiative’, a public-private partnership designed to create sustainable employment through technology. This includes the establishment of regional digital centers and ICT parks to boost innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital entrepreneurship.
President Mahama assured Ghanaians that his government is committed to building a modern, inclusive, and secure digital economy that will prepare the country for the opportunities and risks of the future.
