Health institutions in Ghana have been urged to prioritise cybersecurity as part of their daily operations to safeguard sensitive patient information and protect critical health data against growing cyber threats.
The Director of Administration of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Mrs. Mercy Araba Kertson, made the call in a speech delivered on behalf of the Director General, Mr. Divine Selese Agbeti, at the launch of the cybersecurity awareness week organised by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
Mrs. Kertson underscored the growing need for healthcare providers to adopt stronger cybersecurity practices, as the health sector increasingly relied on digital systems to deliver essential services.
The event formed part of the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) aimed at sensitising the public to embrace good cyber hygiene practices.
Mrs. Kertson called on healthcare services and providers to treat digital resilience with the same urgency as infection control and that investing in cybersecurity strategies was a sure way of positioning the health sector as a crucial front line against emerging threats.
“People are at the heart of robust cybersecurity measures, so it is vital to train staff against common tactics such as phishing, which is the most common entry point for attackers, and apply role-based access controls for both clinical and research data to prevent privilege misuse,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital’s Board Chair, Prof. Eric Adesa Tettey, who chaired the function, cautioned that the benefits of digitalisation also came with associated risks, nothing that healthcare workers should recognise themselves as potential targets and avoid giving unauthorised access to patient information.
A panel session was organised as part of the event with panelists discussing the importance of cyber hygiene and the need to put in place measures for cyber resilience.
The awareness programme continued with staff of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, where the acting Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Inusah reminded staff that anyone using a computer or the internet had a role in protecting government systems.
The session featured presentations by officials of the CSA – Mr. Theophilus Botchway, Dr. Eric Kafui Bansah, and Mr. Nelson Herald Darko.
