The Ministry of Education has raised concerns over increasing cyber-attack attempts targeting the education sector, with universities identified as the primary targets.
Recent investigations into the dark web revealed that employee credentials from government educational institutions have been compromised. These findings underscore the growing vulnerability of the sector to cyber threats.
Speaking at the Cyber Security Awareness Conference held on November 4, 2025, Professor Diyawu Mumin, Executive Director of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling, stated: “The education sector is at risk of cyber-attacks, and this threat is becoming more prevalent across other sectors. Educational institutions face an average of 2,507 cyber-attack attempts per week globally, with universities being prime targets for malware, phishing, and IoT-related threats.”
He further disclosed that the Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team, as part of its ongoing dark web surveillance from January 2025 to date, identified that 505 employee credentials, including email addresses and passwords, belonging to government educational institutions had been compromised.
Professor Mumin also revealed that over 5,000 stealer logs were extracted, with more than 1,000 made available for sale on various forums and marketplaces on the dark web.
Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Divine Selasi Agbeti, announced the development of a national cybersecurity programme to be integrated into the basic school curriculum. The initiative aims to equip young people with knowledge of their digital rights and promote safer online practices.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Education to embed cybersecurity awareness into the basic school curriculum. This will help students learn how to navigate the digital world safely. We aim to launch the first phase of this programme by the end of next year,” Agbeti said.
Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, emphasized the risks of complacency, warning that it could compromise the nation’s digital infrastructure.
“Our tertiary institutions have embraced technology as a tool for progress. However, these same platforms are now targets of cyber threats that jeopardize institutional credibility, compromise sensitive data, and disrupt academic continuity.”
He added: “A single cyber-attack can cripple administrative systems, expose student data, and erode public trust in the integrity of our educational sector.”
To address these challenges, the Commission is integrating digital competencies and cybersecurity awareness into its quality assurance frameworks, programme accreditation processes, and institutional audits.
Professor Abdulai also announced plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration between educational institutions and cybersecurity authorities.
“We expect universities and colleges not only to produce employable graduates but also to nurture resilient individuals who understand the value of information, the sanctity of privacy, and the ethical use of technology in advancing Ghana’s development.”
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to establish a proactive and resilient national cybersecurity framework.
By Beatrice Sowah
