A throwback video of Sam George, the Communication Minister then in opposition, has surfaced following the brouhaha over the proposed amendment to the Cybersecurity Act bill drafted under the Mahama administration.
According to Sam George in the throwback video, the fight against cybercrime across the world has never been done by the government.
In the 2019 video, which has now gone viral, Sam George argues against establishing a new cybersecurity authority.
He highlighted the unnecessary bureaucracy, noting that there are existing national structures for handling cybercrime through private sector efforts.
Speaking in the throwback video, he stated, “The justification for fighting cybercrime is flawed. You already have the infrastructure today that is fighting cybercrime. You have a national cybersecurity advisor at the ministry. There’s a National Cyber Security Centre. There are joint inter-ministerial working groups on cyber crimes.
That has the Minister for National Security, and it has the Minister for Communications. It also has the justice and attorney general”.
He added, “About seven ministers. And structures exist. If we’re setting up an authority that is just a bureaucracy.
The bureaucracy will be responsible for policy regulation and frameworks. That authority isn’t going to fight cybercrime. The fight against it across the world has never been done by governments. It was always done by private sector agencies. What you would see, the Government says, Okay, For all…”
However, Sam George today in government is championing the Cybersecurity Amendment Bill, 2025, which is being introduced by the Communication Minister, Sam George, has come under intense criticism following the proposed amended Cybersecurity Act, 1038.
The CSA amendment bill seeks to gain sweeping control over Ghana’s cyberspace and also impose a 30% levy on industry players.
Many Ghanaians have criticised the bill, arguing that the CSA, which seeks to protect Ghanaians, rather poses a significant threat to Ghana’s digital security landscape.
According to the netizen, the CSA is the most dangerous bill Ghana has ever drafted, which quietly gives the CSA power to arrest, freeze assets, and access your data, all in the name of “cybersecurity”.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) are asking Ghanaians for their input to shape the country’s digital defences as the government launches a public review of its proposed cybersecurity update.
“We need laws that match the speed of digital innovation,” the CSA noted.
However, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), designed to provide technical oversight and promote digital safety, has now ignited debate on social media, with Ghanaians arguing that it could now act as an armed enforcement body capable of conducting arrests, searches, and seizures without traditional police oversight.
Netizens argue that the bill could lead to abuse of power, intimidation of opponents and critics, and the suppression of online views under the guise of cybersecurity enforcement.
Furthermore, former Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed concern over the proposed amendment to the Cybersecurity Act bill drafted under the Mahama administration.
According to Oppong Nkrumah, the cybersecurity bill is dangerous and could lead to jail time for posting “offensive” comments on WhatsApp chat groups.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah cautioned that criminalising free speech to the extent that individuals could be arrested for sharing offensive remarks in a WhatsApp chat poses a threat to the nation’s democracy.
The lawmaker argued President Mahama had earlier hinted at plans to use national security agencies to monitor social media users.
Watch the video below:
The contradiction now and seeing people defend it is just mind-blowing. Oh my goodness… politicians 😄 pic.twitter.com/NuEMPUdlvS
— Tech In Twi (@tech_twi) October 27, 2025