"Online threats often go undetected until major harm Is done" — Emmanuel Agyare

The Africa Centre for Digital Transformation (ACDT), in partnership with the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), the Government of the Czech Republic, and the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, has launched the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project to equip journalists and media practitioners with the knowledge and skills to effectively report on cybersecurity issues.

Speaking at the launch, Emmanuel Agyare, Board Chairman of Africa Centre for Digital Transformation (ACDT), noted that cyber incidents are increasingly driven by technology and are often accompanied by the rapid spread of inaccurate information during and after attacks.

He stressed that harmful online activities frequently go undetected until significant damage has already occurred, making the media's role in cybersecurity awareness more critical than ever.

According to Mr. Agyare, editors, journalists, bloggers, and digital content creators are key stakeholders in the fight against cybercrime, yet their contributions are often overlooked.

The initiative therefore seeks to build a cyber-informed media capable of promoting national resilience against digital threats.

The project will focus on four key objectives:

Strengthening the technical, ethical, and operational capacity of community media practitioners to accurately report on cybercrime, digital threats, and national cybersecurity incidents.

Enhancing public understanding of cyber threats, online safety, and digital risk mitigation, while promoting the use of local languages and community outreach to educate citizens.

Deepening collaboration between the media, the Cyber Security Authority, National Security, and other law enforcement agencies to improve coordinated responses to cybercrime.

Establishing a responsive Cybersecurity Press Corps made up of selected journalists from media organisations across Ghana to champion cybersecurity awareness nationwide.

The training programme has been structured into four modules. Participants will receive instruction on cybersecurity fundamentals, critical information infrastructure, and responsible reporting practices.

Additional modules will cover online fraud, cybercrime trends, reporting techniques, digital forensics for journalists, as well as media ethics, cybersecurity law, child online protection, sextortion, and incident reporting.

As part of the programme, every participant will be required to produce and submit a journalistic piece, which may take the form of a news story, feature article, mini-documentary, or investigative report.

Selected works will be published to support public education on cybersecurity issues.

He explained that membership in the Cybersecurity Press Corps will be granted only to participants who attend all training sessions, successfully complete the required assignments, and actively participate throughout the programme.

The project officially commenced with an information session held on July 27, followed by the official launch.

Weekly training sessions will continue through the end of August, after which participants' submissions will be reviewed before the formal inauguration of the Cybersecurity Press Corps.

The first phase of the initiative is being implemented in Accra, with organisers expressing optimism that the programme will contribute significantly to strengthening Ghana's national cybersecurity ecosystem through responsible and informed media reporting.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith