About 64 per cent of children of school age in the country are at risk of sexual exploitation through the internet, says the Cyber Security Authority.
According to the authority, more than 22,000 child sexual exploited materials were generated and shared in Ghana through the internet in a 2022 survey, pointing to the need to mitigate the problem.
The Lead Child Online Protector at the authority, Mrs Herrietta Asamoah, mentioned at the National Cyber Security Challenge 2024 for selected schools in the Middle Zone.
It was on the theme, ‘Empowering Young minds, Creating opportunities: Promoting a Safe Digital Ghana.’
According to Mrs Asamoah, the purpose of the challenge initiated in 2022, was to raise awareness for children to help them keep safe online, make them credible advocates to spread the gospel across the country.
She said the authority had expanded their reach for six schools in 2022 to 70 schools and expressed the hope that the next survey could have less number of cases with regard to child exploitative materials that had been produced, shared and distributed through the internet in the country.
A Senior Manager, Regional Sales, Northern Business District of MTN, Mr Simon Amoh, said one area that demanded special attention was the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“It is a double-edged sword whose unprecedented speed enhances our defensive capabilities, and can also be used by malicious actors to develop more sophisticated cyber-attacks,” he said.
Noting the importance of embracing advanced technologies, he advised “we must ensure that we use the internet ethically and responsibly.”
He encouraged the contestants to think about cyber security solutions that would positively impact Ghana and contribute to the “safer digital Ghana we all envisage.”
Mr Amoh told them that, cyber security was not just about protecting data, but about safeguarding the trust and integrity of the digital society.
He commended the Cyber Security Authority, participants and all stakeholders who made the critical event possible for the third time in a row, adding that, digital literacy and cyber security have become very important with the rapid advancement of technology and increasing sophisticated threats.
He expressed the view that, events like the competition, would foster a culture of awareness and learning, ensuring that the students did not fall victim to cyber-attacks.
Five schools competed in the challenge with Serwaa Kese SHS being adjudged champions of the middle zone with 37 points.
Kintampo SHS had 27 points, Prempeh College, 26 points, Berekum SHS, 21 points and Sefwi Bekwai SHS, 16 points.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI