The Cyber Security Authority has warned the public to desist from sharing sexually explicit videos and images of children online, following reports of the circulation of such material involving some senior high school students.

In a public notice, the Authority said it had become aware of disturbing content being shared across digital platforms. “It has come to the attention of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) that there is a circulation of sexually explicit videos and photos of some senior high school students,” the statement said.

The CSA reminded the public that the sharing of such material constitutes a criminal offence under Ghanaian law. “The public is hereby reminded that it is a crime to share indecent videos and images of children as specified in the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038),” the Authority stated.

Citing the legal provisions, the CSA explained that the law places a clear prohibition on the creation and distribution of indecent content involving children. “Section 62 of the Act states that a person shall not take, produce, publish, or stream, or possess an indecent image or photograph of a child in a computer system or on an electronic device such as a mobile phone,” the notice added.

The Authority further warned that severe penalties apply to individuals or organisations found culpable. “Any person, blogger, or institution who is found circulating sexually explicit videos or photographs of children is liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than 10 years,” it said.

Beyond punishment, the CSA appealed to the public to act responsibly when such content appears on their devices. “The public is urged to immediately delete any such videos or photos when shared with them and to report individuals and bloggers who share such content to the cybersecurity or cybercrime incident reporting points of contact of the CSA,” the statement noted.

As part of its wider efforts to protect children and promote online safety, the Authority encouraged citizens to report cybercrime and cybersecurity incidents by texting or calling 292, or by contacting the CSA through its official reporting channels. 

The CSA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s digital space and protecting minors from online exploitation, stressing that collective vigilance is essential to achieving a safer digital Ghana.