By Rebecca Ampah
A Cybersecurity Expert, David Gyedu, has cautioned Ghanaian parents to be more vigilant as online predators increasingly target children through social media, gaming platforms, and entertainment sites.
He spoke on the GTV Breakfast Show during a discussion on Protecting Children from Online Abuse, explaining that cybercriminals are now shifting tactics to focus on children because adults have become more alert to online scams.
According to him, many attackers “pretend to be children or offer child-friendly content” to lure kids into unsafe interactions. He noted that predators often take advantage of the fact that children use their parents’ devices, making it easier to access entire households once the child has been compromised.
Gyedu said most threats today originate from social media platforms, gaming portals, and entertainment sites where pop-up adverts redirect unsuspecting children to harmful content.
“We give them our devices just to keep them busy, and they end up on the same social media platforms we use,” he said, adding that sites like TikTok, Snapchat, and even regular YouTube expose them to unfiltered content.
He warned that predators have developed new grooming strategies, starting with harmless conversations, offering opportunities, sending gifts or mobile credit, and gradually building trust until they exploit the child emotionally or sexually.
“In Ghana, we’ve seen cases where online chats move to physical meetings. They brainwash the kids, make them feel valued, and then lure them into dangerous activities,” he said.
He added that security agencies, including the Cyber Crime Unit, CID, and EOCO, have recently arrested people involved in such grooming schemes.
Gyedu also expressed concern about the rise of fake gaming applications created by cybercriminals to trap children. These apps, he said, expose children to inappropriate adverts and phishing links that lead to exploitative portals.
The expert further highlighted signs that parents should watch for, such as children setting new passwords, archiving WhatsApp chats, or hiding browsing histories indicating that something might be wrong.
On solutions, Gyedu urged parents to:
- activate parental controls on all devices,
- monitor children’s online activity,
- follow their children on every social media platform,
- regularly check browsing histories,
- treat online safety as part of everyday conversations.
He also called for schools to integrate Internet safety training into the Ghana Education Service curriculum so teachers can guide pupils effectively. “It shouldn’t only be ICT teachers. Every teacher must understand basic online safety protocols,” he stressed.
Touching on national protections, Gyedu said Ghana has some cyberbullying and online safety policies, but more enforcement and public education are needed. He encouraged institutions to collaborate and “set scapegoats” to deter offenders.
He reminded Parents and guardians to report any suspicious online behaviour or threats to the National Cybersecurity Authority via its 24/7 hotline, 292, or through its WhatsApp support channels.
The discussion ended with a strong appeal to parents to be proactive: “The device you give a child can help them, or it can damage them. We must protect them before predators reach them,” Gyedu emphasized.
