By Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has stressed that Ghana’s plan for a 24-hour economy will only succeed if backed by secure systems, constant monitoring, and strong cybersecurity protocols.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 National Cyber Security Awareness Month in Accra on Wednesday October 1, 2025, President Mahama said round-the-clock economic activity means businesses, banks, hospitals, and public services must operate without disruption day or night. This, he noted, requires robust digital safeguards.
“Beyond being a job creation strategy, the 24-hour economy is also about digital resilience. It demands secure systems, constant monitoring, and strong cybersecurity protocols,” the President stated.
Mr. Mahama warned that Ghana, like many countries, faces growing threats from cyber fraud, phishing, identity theft, and online scams, which harm both individuals and institutions. He revealed that globally, over 20% of reported cyber incidents in the past two decades targeted the financial sector, leading to losses of more than $12 billion since 2020 alone.
As part of his government’s Reset Ghana Agenda, the President highlighted key initiatives, including:
The One Million Coders Program, training young Ghanaians in coding, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
The Digital Jobs Initiative, creating technology-driven employment and redeveloping the Dawa ICT Park into a global innovation hub.
The FinTech Growth Fund, with $50 million set aside to support indigenous startups and boost Ghana’s digital finance ecosystem.
To strengthen institutional defenses, President Mahama also inaugurated the Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC), which brings together security and intelligence agencies to work with the Cyber Security Authority in fighting cyber threats.
He emphasized the need for international cooperation, announcing that Ghana will ratify and sign the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime this October, adding to its commitments under the Malabo and Budapest Conventions.
President Mahama further reminded Ghanaians that cyber defense starts with individual awareness. “Our citizens are our first line of defense. From the school child to the market trader, everyone must understand the risks of the digital world and know how to stay safe,” he said.
He concluded by urging government, the private sector, civil society, and citizens to work together to build a “cyber-resilient Ghana”, noting that “digitalization without security is unsustainable, innovation without responsibility is dangerous, and opportunity without inclusion is unjust.”
