The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has issued a final warning to all Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), Establishments (CEs), and Professionals (CPs), announcing that it will begin enforcing strict sanctions against unlicensed operators starting January 31, 2026.

The move is part of a broad regulatory sweep to ensure that all entities providing cybersecurity services in Ghana are lawfully accredited under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).

According to a press release issued by the authority on January 23, 2026, any individual or firm operating without a valid licence or accreditation after the month-end deadline will be in direct violation of Section 49(1) of the Act.

The CSA warned that defaulters will face the "full rigours of the law", which include:

• Criminal Prosecution: Formal legal action through the court system.
• Administrative Penalties: Significant fines and regulatory sanctions as provided under Section 49(2) of the Act.

In a bid to sanitise the industry, the CSA has strongly advised both private and public institutions, as well as the general public, to engage only with CSA-licensed or CSA-accredited entities.

To facilitate this, the authority will soon publish a comprehensive directory of all verified professionals and establishments.

Citizens are encouraged to perform due diligence before hiring cybersecurity experts by:

• Online Authentication: Verifying certificate numbers directly on the official CSA portal at https://www.csa.gov.gh/licence.
• Direct Inquiry: Contacting the CSA via email at compliance@csa.gov.gh or through their dedicated compliance line at 0531140408.

The enforcement action follows previous directives from the CSA aimed at standardising the cybersecurity landscape in Ghana.

By regulating service providers and professionals, the CSA aims to protect the national digital infrastructure from subpar services and potential security breaches.