Speaking at the media launch of the 2025 National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM 2025), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, emphasized a “whole-of-society” approach to combating cyber threats. Her remarks highlighted the critical role of law enforcement and the need for sustained collaboration among government, private sector, academia, and citizens.
COP Donkor commended the Cybersecurity Authority for its leadership in sustaining the annual initiative, stating that the theme, “Building a Safe, Informed, and Accountable Digital Space,” is incredibly timely. She outlined the Ghana Police Service’s dual responsibility in the digital realm to investigate and prosecute cybercriminals and to protect citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
“Cybersecurity is not the sole responsibility of governments or law enforcement,” she stated. “It requires a whole-of-society approach where individuals, families, businesses, civil society and state institutions all play their parts.”
She revealed that the CID and its Cybercrime Unit are actively collaborating with the Cybersecurity Authority to disrupt criminal networks and enhance the technical capacity of officers to handle complex digital investigations.
COP Donkor highlighted the Ghana Police Service’s investment in advanced technology, including cyberintelligence platforms with integrated artificial intelligence . These systems, she explained, allow officers to analyze vast amounts of digital evidence, identify patterns, and link suspects to crimes with greater accuracy.
A significant achievement mentioned was the collaboration with Meta to launch the AMBA Alert Ghana system. This initiative uses social media to push alerts about missing children to millions of users, effectively transforming a technological solution into a community policing strategy.
In a call to action, COP Donkor urged all sectors to take on their roles in safeguarding the nation’s digital space. To the government, she urged to continue investing in cybersecurity infrastructure and legislation. She encouraged the private sector to strengthen defenses and report incidents promptly, as “silence only empowers criminals.”
To the academia, she called for advance research and produce skilled graduates, such as forensic examiners and penetration testers, to meet national demand.
COP Lydia Donkor also entreated the media to
resist disinformation and protect the truth, recognizing that “facts are the first line of defense against cyber threats.” She asked citizens to be vigilant by protecting personal identity and reporting cybercrime.
”National resilience is built not by institutions alone, but by the actions of every individual,” she concluded. COP Donkor reaffirmed the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to protecting the digital well-being of the nation through continued partnership with all stakeholders.
Story: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
