In pursuit of a safer digital landscape, the Industrial Liaison Department of GCTU, in collaboration with GCB Bank PLC, has organized a cybersecurity awareness month celebration on October 30, 2025, at the Florence Onny Auditorium.
The event, which focused on the theme “Building a Safe, Informed and Accountable Digital Space,” aimed to promote a safe and secure online environment, reflecting the commitment of GCTU and GCB Bank to digital safety and responsible technology use. The event brought together industry experts, students and stakeholders to discuss pressing cybersecurity issues and share insights on mitigating emerging threats.
Speaking at the event, the Head of the Industrial Liaison Department (ILD), Dr. Ahmed Antwi-Boampong, underscored the importance of bringing together stakeholders to deliberate on ways to participate in and contribute to the cybersecurity space, thereby ensuring that institutions and stakeholders are cybersecurity-aware. He highlighted the increasing threats of cyber-attacks and cyberbullying, indicating the need for heightened awareness. Dr. Antwi-Boampong expressed his gratitude to GCB Bank for partnering with GCTU and urged participants to take away valuable lessons from the cybersecurity knowledge-sharing.
In his remarks, the Compliance Manager at GCB Bank (Head Office), Mr. Bright Ohene, expressed gratitude to GCTU for choosing to partner with GCB Bank on this awareness initiative, citing the University’s commitment to enhancing cyber security awareness as a key responsibility. He noted that in today’s digital age, it’s crucial to ensure online safety, particularly with personal data being shared on various platforms. The purpose of the event, he said, was to create further awareness, emphasizing that cyber security goes beyond technology. Mr. Ohene underscored the importance of staying safe from cyber criminals who are constantly advancing, stressing the importance of staying abreast of the latest cyber threats and attacks. “Security is a continuous activity, not a one-off thing,” he emphasized. He encouraged participants to share the knowledge acquired with others.
Delivering his presentation, an Officer at the Compliance Department, Mr. Edmund Essah, indicated that over 17 million Ghanaians use the internet, stating that one can do almost everything online now – schooling, chatting, shopping and assignments. However, he cautioned, “Every click and post leaves a mark. The more we share, the more we expose,” he said. Mr. Essah further revealed that, according to the Cyber Security Authority, cyber attacks had resulted in the country losing $14.94 million in just the first half of 2025, underscoring the importance of knowing how to stay safe and smart online. Emphasizing the value of data, he stated, “Data is the new gold. While people used to dig mountains for gold in the past, today hackers dig through networks for data. The gold rush never ended; it just went digital.”
According to Mr. Essah, these days scammers no longer chase one on the street – they wait online. A fake momo alert, a ‘free bundle’ message, or phishing link can be the start of a cyber attack. He further added that the biggest threats today do not break into rooms – they break into devices.
