Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), threatening to distribute a child’s sexual image in exchange for money or sexual favours is punishable by 10 to 25 years in prison. Parents who suspect that a child is being targeted can report the matter to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) by calling or texting its 292 short code, or through WhatsApp on 0501603111. Reports of online abuse are increasing. Between January and September, cyberbullying accounted for 19 per cent of incidents reported to the CSA, compared with nine per cent in 2025. Online blackmail also rose to 20 per cent, according to CSA figures released this week.
However, many children do not speak up when they experience online abuse. A 2017 UNICEF report, which informed the CSA’s baseline for its national child online protection framework, found that four in every 10 children in Ghana had encountered sexual images online in the preceding year. The report also revealed that approximately half of the children surveyed struggled to discuss such experiences with their caregivers. Additionally, one in five had met face-to-face with someone they had initially encountered online.
What Ghana’s cybersecurity law says about protecting children online
The Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), defines a child as anyone under the age of 18. Its provisions on child online protection outline several offences and their corresponding penalties. The full text of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 is available on the Cyber Security Authority’s website.
Section 62: taking, producing, publishing, live-streaming or possessing an indecent image of a child. The penalty is five to 10 years in prison, a fine of 2,500 to 5,000 penalty units, or both.
Section 63: using the internet or any device to groom, lure or entice a child for sexual purposes, which carries five to 15 years.
Section 65: cyberstalking a child, which means collecting or sharing a child’s name, phone number, address, photo or other details to arrange a meeting for sex. It carries five to 15 years.
Section 66: sexual extortion, or threatening to release intimate images to extort money or sex. Subsection (2) deals specifically with images of children. The penalty is 10 to 25 years.Two further sections apply to everyone, including teenagers. Section 67 punishes sharing someone’s intimate image without consent, and Section 68 punishes threatening to share it. Each carries one to three years. Under Section 62, handing an indecent image of a child to another person counts as publishing it.
In July 2025, the Child Safety Agency (CSA) issued a warning about the circulation of a video showing the abuse of a 12-year-old boy, emphasising that sharing such content is a crime and urging the public to stop distributing it. The CSA defines grooming as the process in which an adult befriends a child online to build an emotional connection, with the intent of sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking.
Groomers often impersonate children or teenagers to gain trust. According to the CSA’s guidance on cyber grooming, these individuals seek to obtain intimate pictures or videos from the child, which they can then use to blackmail the child for more explicit content. Another concerning pattern arises from the sharing of intimate images within a relationship, which may then be passed on to others after the relationship ends.
If your child finds themselves involved in such a situation, the CSA advises parents to support their child and refrain from placing blame. Children may already feel betrayed and embarrassed, so it’s crucial to approach the situation with understanding and compassion. Tell them not to share the image with anyone, online or offline. Report the material to the platform it appeared on and to the police
Report the incident to the CSA through its contact channels. If your child seems withdrawn or distressed afterwards, speak to a health worker. Privacy settings and parental controls worth checking UNICEF’s online privacy checklist for parents suggests these steps: keep every device your child uses updated with the latest software.
Check each device’s privacy settings to limit what data is shared, such as location and photos, and control access to the camera and microphone.
Review the privacy, security and account settings in each app and game, so you know who can see your child’s information and contact them
Turn off app permissions that seem excessive for your child’s age
Use the parental controls offered on devices, apps, games and by internet providers to manage content, screen time and purchases
Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and never share passwords
Check the settings again every few months, because they change.
Searching online for a device or app name alongside the phrase “parental controls” can help parents find step-by-step guidance, UNICEF advises. The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) recommends two additional measures: identifying the platforms children use and checking their minimum age requirements. Parents can also consider installing filters to restrict access to inappropriate websites.
How to talk to teenagers about online risks
Parental controls and privacy settings are important, but they cannot address every online risk. UNICEF encourages parents of older children to begin by asking teenagers to demonstrate how their favourite platforms work, then explore the available privacy settings together.
Parents can also ask whether anyone has ever pressured them to share personal information online and how they would respond if they encountered a problem. UNICEF recommends involving teenagers in decisions about their online privacy and creating an environment where they can speak openly without fear of judgement. As they become more confident and experienced online, they can gradually assume greater responsibility for their safety.
Other family recommendations include setting clear limits on screen time, making time for regular family activities without gadgets, and teaching children how to block and report harmful users and content. For teenagers experiencing cyberbullying, the CSA advises them to confide in a trusted adult, avoid responding to or sharing abusive messages, block the person responsible and report the account to the relevant platform.
What the government is considering
In June, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, announced plans to present a proposal to Cabinet that would require users to provide a national identity card or driver’s licence before accessing pornographic websites. He did not specify when the proposal would be presented. Also in June, following the UK’s announcement of a proposed social media ban for children under 16, the minister wrote on X that “Ghana cannot be left behind.”
How to report online abuse involving a child in Ghana
The Cyber Security Authority provides the following reporting channels:
Call or text: 292
WhatsApp 0501603111
email report@csa.gov.gh
You can report incidents using the form available on the CSA’s website or through the CSA GHANA app. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest police station. In its message for Africa Safer Internet Day in February, the CSA urged children to confide in a trusted adult, such as a parent or teacher.
FAQ:
What age is considered a child under Ghana’s cybersecurity law?
According to the Cybersecurity Act of 2020, anyone under the age of 18 is classified as a child.
Can a teenager break the law by forwarding a nude photo of a classmate?
Yes, Section 62 applies to “a person” and considers the act of sharing an indecent image of a child as equivalent to publishing it. The CSA advises parents to instruct their children never to share such images.
Is Ghana planning to implement age checks online?
The Communications Minister stated in June that he is working on an ID-verification proposal for pornographic websites to present to Cabinet, although no specific timeline has been provided.
