By Clement Akoloh
The Director General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, has said national security is not the exclusive responsibility of security agencies but a shared national duty in which the media is a strategic partner.
Delivering his closing remarks at the end of the two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Responsive National Security Reporting for PRINPAG members, Mr. Agbeti said over the past two days participants examined national security architecture, emerging asymmetric threats, communal conflicts, strategic communication, legal frameworks, cybercrime, information warfare, ethics, press freedom and national interest.
“These are not separate observations. Together they define the environment in which the Ghanaian media must now operate. The central message of this workshop is simple. National security is not the exclusive responsibility of the security agencies. It is a shared national duty and the media is a strategic partner,” he said.
He stressed that the partnership does not require the media to surrender its independence or become an extension of government.
“That partnership does not require the media to surrender its independence, suppress legitimate criticism or become an extension of government. On the contrary, a professional, independent and courageous press strengthens national security by exposing wrongdoing, countering falsehoods, informing the public and holding institutions accountable. But freedom carries responsibility,” he stated.
According to him, in a volatile information environment, accuracy, context and judgement are instruments of national resilience.
“A misleading headline can spread across the country in minutes. An unverified video can trigger fear, inflame communal tensions or damage public confidence. A report that reveals sensitive operational details can compromise an investigation and put lives or critical systems at risk. Conversely, one carefully verified report can stop misinformation, protect the public and help institutions respond effectively,” he warned.
Mr. Agbeti said cyber criminals and hostile actors now exploit urgency, fear and public trust using impersonation, compromised accounts, manipulated images, synthetic audio and coordinated disinformation to deceive citizens.
“Journalists and newsrooms are both targets and potential force multipliers. When a journalist’s account is compromised the attacker gains access not only to data but also to credibility and an audience,” he noted.
He urged every newsroom to make cyber security part of editorial culture through basic safeguards including strong unique passwords, multifactor authentication, prompt software updates, secure backups, verification of links and attachments, clear access controls and an incident response plan.
“So imagine if the media themselves have this practice then it is easy to educate those out there,” he added.
Source: africanewsradio.com
