Cybersecurity News Digest

Here’s a cybersecurity news digest focused on Africa / Ghana as of October 10, 2025 — key developments, statistics, and trends you should know:

Major Developments in Ghana & Africa

Interpol Cracks Sextortion Rings Across Africa

Interpol recently arrested over 250 suspects across 14 African nations in “Operation Contender 3.0,” a large-scale crackdown on sextortion, romance scams, and digital extortion. The Week
Ghana led the arrest count with nearly 70 suspects and hundreds of seized devices. The Week
The operation flagged how attackers exploit emotional vulnerabilities and how cross-border cooperation is critical to fight online crime in Africa. The Week

Ghana Reports GH¢19+ Million Lost to Cybercrime in First 9 Months

According to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Ghana lost over GH¢19 million to cybercrime between January and September 2025. GhanaWeb
This figure underscores how cyber threats have real financial impact on individuals, businesses, and the national economy. GhanaWeb

Talent Exodus Threatens Ghana’s Cyber Defenses

Divine Selase Agbeti, Acting Director of the CSA, warned of a brain drain: many cybersecurity professionals leave public service for significantly higher-paying roles abroad or in private sectors. News Ghana
He also said that in some institutions, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) roles are symbolic—CISOs have little real authority—further weakening institutional security. News Ghana
To counter these trends, the CSA plans stricter enforcement of the Cybersecurity Act and reforms to expand the authority’s prosecutorial powers, beginning January 2026. News Ghana

National Cybersecurity Committee Inaugurated

President Mahama inaugurated an 18-member Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC) at the launch of National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025. Xinhua+2TechAfrica News+2
The JCC brings together representatives from security, intelligence, and government agencies. Its mission: coordinate national efforts, align institutions, and respond proactively to cyber threats. Xinhua
Mahama also said Ghana plans to ratify and sign the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime during the month, giving the country new tools for cross-border investigation and prosecution. Xinhua

Cybersecurity & Financial Integrity: Calls for Stronger Measures

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to integrating stronger cybersecurity safeguards into financial crime prevention systems. GhanaWeb
As financial systems increasingly go digital, FIC officials stressed that preventing fraud, money laundering, and other threats depends on robust cybersecurity infrastructure. GhanaWeb

Cybersecurity Maturity in Africa: Ghana vs South Africa vs Zimbabwe

A recent comparative analysis describes Ghana as an “Agile Gazelle” — growing fast, striving to build capacity, and moving toward more mature cybersecurity structures. DigitalVocano
By contrast:

• South Africa is labeled the “Lion,” with a mature, complex ecosystem supporting advanced security operations. DigitalVocano
• Zimbabwe is seen as a “Young Gazelle,” reacting swiftly to regulatory catalysts and building foundational frameworks. DigitalVocano
  The analysis suggests Ghana’s future depends heavily on closing its skills gap, expanding institutional capabilities, and enforcing stronger policies. DigitalVocano

Themes, Risks & What to Watch

1. Cross-border crime is rising. The Interpol arrests show that cyber threats span nations — fighting them demands cooperation and shared intelligence.
2. Economic impact is visible. GH¢19 million lost in 9 months sends a clear message: cybersecurity is not just technical, but financial and social.
3. Human capital crisis. Retaining trained cybersecurity professionals and giving them real authority remains a central challenge.
4. Institutional coordination matters. The creation of the JCC could help reduce silos and ensure faster, unified responses to incidents.
5. Legal frameworks and treaties are crucial. Ghana’s push to ratify the UN Cybercrime Convention, and stricter enforcement under its Cybersecurity Act, will shape how well the country defends itself.
6. Digital finance & security are tightly linked. As more banking and financial services go digital, the integrity of those systems must be protected.