The Director-General of the Cybersecurity Authority (CSA), Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, has called for stronger integration of cybersecurity education across all levels of Ghana’s tertiary institutions to safeguard the country’s digital future.
He made the call at the maiden edition of the National Cybersecurity Education Conference, held under the theme “Empowering Higher Education for Cyber Resilience and Digital Rights.”
Agbeti said the theme reflected the shared national commitment between the CSA, the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and tertiary institutions to build a digital transformation that is “innovative, inclusive, secure, informed, and accountable.”
Pointing to the global threat landscape, he noted that cybercrime is projected to reach US$10.5 trillion by the end of 2025, describing it as “one of the largest transfers of economic wealth in history.” He added that the global cybersecurity workforce shortfall stood at about four million professionals, according to the 2024 (ISC)2 workforce study.
In Ghana, where over 24 million citizens, nearly 70% of the population, now rely on the internet for learning, governance, and commerce, Agbeti warned that progress in digitalization has also increased exposure to cyber risks. “The education sector, which holds vast amounts of sensitive data, has become an increasing target for cybercriminals,” he said, citing cases such as grade alteration, forged certificates, question leakages, sextortion, and cyberbullying.
He emphasized that the education sector has been designated as a critical information infrastructure, stressing that its protection is vital to national security and stability. “For this reason, the CSA has prioritized education within Ghana’s national cyber resilience strategy,” he said, referencing the Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038) and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy as guiding frameworks.
Agbeti revealed that the CSA contributed to the review of the ICT in Education Policy to integrate cybersecurity, data protection, and digital ethics, urging the Education Minister to fast-track its finalization. He also announced the CSA’s partnership with GTEC to develop a national cybersecurity competency and qualification framework, aimed at creating structured learning pathways from basic literacy to advanced professional certification.
“A draft memorandum of understanding has been submitted to GTEC to formalize this collaboration,” he said, urging the Director-General of GTEC to expedite its approval to ensure cybersecurity becomes “an integral and accredited part of higher education across Ghana.”
As part of strengthening sectoral resilience, Agbeti disclosed plans to establish an Education Sectoral Computer Emergency Response Team (EDU-CERT) to coordinate responses to cyber incidents in universities and colleges. This, he said, would improve detection and response to ransomware, data breaches, and online abuse within the academic environment.
He further noted that the CSA’s nationwide awareness campaigns had reached 5.6 million adults between January and October 2025, compared to just 102,000 in 2022, demonstrating progress toward a more cyber-aware society.
However, he stressed that cybersecurity should not be confined to IT departments or computer labs. “Every student, whether studying medicine, law, business, or education, should develop a basic understanding of digital safety and responsibility,” he said. “When a nursing student learns to protect patient data, when a business student grasps privacy in e-commerce, and when a teacher trainee is prepared to guide children safely online, that is when cybersecurity truly becomes embedded in education.”
Agbeti commended the Ministry of Education, GTEC, and Accra Technical University for organizing the landmark conference and expressed hope that it becomes an annual platform for collaboration between academia, policymakers, and industry.
“The CSA remains firmly committed to this partnership,” he concluded. “Together, we can make sure that cybersecurity education is at the heart of Ghana’s digital future, safeguarding students’ rights, strengthening our institutions, and supporting our goal of a secure and trusted digital nation.”
