Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Mohammed Adams Sukparu has disclosed that Ghanaians reportedly lost about GH¢1.14 million to an alleged fraudulent investment scheme operated by a platform known as CWPC Digital Marketing in July 2026.
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) received 174 reports linked to the platform between July 1 and 31, highlighting the growing use of digital platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Mr Sukparu said the rapid growth of mobile money, digital banking, fintech platforms and online payment services had improved financial inclusion but also created new avenues for cyber-enabled financial crime.
He said authorities were increasingly encountering sophisticated schemes involving romance scams, investment fraud, business email compromise, identity theft, impersonation and other forms of social engineering.
The Deputy Minister also warned about criminals impersonating major banks and using social engineering tactics to convince customers that they are communicating with legitimate financial institutions.
He said elderly people were particularly vulnerable to schemes in which criminals establish false identities and build relationships with victims before persuading them to transfer money under fabricated inheritance, investment, diamond and other schemes.
“When citizens lose their savings to cybercrime, families suffer. When businesses lose their working capital, livelihoods are affected,” Mr Sukparu said.
He warned that continued losses could undermine public confidence in digital financial services and, in turn, affect the growth of Ghana’s digital economy.
Mr Sukparu said cybersecurity must no longer be treated solely as a technical issue, arguing that cybercrime now has implications for Ghana’s economic security, social wellbeing, national security and development.
He called for a whole-of-society response involving government institutions, financial institutions, fintech companies, academia, civil society, technology providers, development partners, the media and individual citizens.
The Deputy Minister said the growing convergence between cybercrime and money laundering made cooperation particularly important because proceeds from online fraud can be moved across borders, concealed through multiple financial channels and eventually integrated into the legitimate economy.
He cited recent international investigations and extraditions involving Ghanaian nationals as evidence that cyber-enabled financial crime increasingly operates across jurisdictions.
Mr Sukparu said Ghana’s response must therefore be coordinated and proactive, with stronger international cooperation to identify, investigate and prosecute offenders.
Five areas of focus
He said the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month will focus on five strategic areas: strengthening Ghana’s digital financial ecosystem; cybercrime prevention and response; cyber resilience and critical infrastructure protection; cyber hygiene and digital safety; and capacity building, research, innovation and multi-stakeholder cooperation.
He said the aim was to shift the country’s approach from reacting to cyber incidents to developing a culture of prevention and preparedness.
“Awareness is an important first step, but awareness must translate into responsible digital behaviour,” Mr Sukparu said.
He urged Ghanaians to verify information before transferring money and protect their passwords, PINs and authentication codes.
Citizens were also advised to be cautious about unsolicited investment opportunities, verify communications claiming to come from banks or other trusted institutions, and report suspected cybercrime promptly.
“Cyber criminals often succeed not because technology is weak, but because they exploit trust, agency, fear, and human behaviour,” he said.
Mr Sukparu said businesses and institutions must make cybersecurity an integral part of their governance, risk management and technology development, while financial institutions and fintech companies should place customer protection at the centre of digital innovation.
He also urged technology providers to incorporate security into the design of their products and services and institutions handling sensitive information to treat the protection of data and digital assets as a fundamental responsibility.