BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has issued a strong public warning following reports of the circulation of sexually explicit videos and images involving some Senior High School students on online platforms.
The Authority says the development raises serious legal and child protection concerns and constitutes a criminal offence under the cybersecurity laws.
In a statement, the CSA said it has become aware of the spread of indecent digital content involving minors across social media and other electronic platforms, prompting the need to remind the public of the legal consequences associated with such acts.
The Authority stressed that children are protected under the laws and that any form of online sexual exploitation or abuse will not be tolerated.
The CSA referenced the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which criminalises the taking, production, publication, streaming, possession or distribution of indecent images or videos of children through computer systems or electronic devices, including mobile phones.
According to Section 62 of the Act, engaging in any of these acts constitutes a serious offence, regardless of whether the individual created the content or merely shared it.
The Authority further cautioned that any person, blogger, media platform or institution found circulating sexually explicit images or videos of children faces severe punishment under the law.
Offenders are liable to a prison term of not less than five years and not more than ten years, reflecting the gravity with which the state treats child sexual exploitation in the digital space.
Providing background to the warning, the CSA noted that Ghana has in recent years seen a rise in cyber-related offences, particularly involving the misuse of social media platforms to share harmful and illegal content.
This has led to increased enforcement of Act 1038 and intensified public education efforts aimed at promoting responsible digital behaviour and safeguarding children online.
The Authority has therefore urged members of the public who receive such explicit content to immediately delete it and refrain from sharing it further, as continued circulation amounts to a criminal offence.
In addition, the CSA called on the public to report individuals, bloggers or platforms involved in the distribution of such materials through its designated cybercrime and cybersecurity incident reporting channels.
