Ghana - October 2025

On 1 October, Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) opened a public consultation on the draft Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which expands the Authority’s powers to investigate, prosecute and manage cybercrime. The bill would allow the CSA to arrest, search and seize property, prosecute cybercrime with the Attorney General’s approval, freeze assets and access private data under court orders. It also introduces new offences, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking and spreading false information, with penalties of up to 10 years. Critics, including the Ghana Journalists Association, IMANI Africa, and opposition politicians, argue that vague definitions and disproportionate penalties risk criminalising legitimate expression and could be used to target journalists and government critics. The government argues the bill strengthens national cyber defences and says the draft remains open for input from the public until 14 November. Cabinet and Attorney General review will follow before the bill is introduced in Parliament.

Sources: Cyber Security Authority of Ghana, Digital Policy Alert, GhanaFact, MyJoyOnline, The Africa Report, Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment