Nearly 1 out of 3 persons in Ghana access internet for sports betting
Individuals in sports betting lead the pack in terms of internet users in Ghana, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has revealed.
Out of 17 million internet users recorded in Ghana in 2022, about 11.18 million people use the internet to access sports betting sites, 10.79 million use it to access news sites, 10.68 million for social media sites, and 2.57 million use it to visit informational sites.
With Ghana’s population pegged at 31.07 million, it implies that about 30% or one out of three people access the internet to engage in sports betting.
The figure also represents an increase in internet use by over 600% within the last 10 years, from 2.31 million in 2012 to 17 million in 2022.
The average time spent per internet user on mobile phones is pegged at 5 hours daily.
The Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, disclosed this at the media launch of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) in Accra on September 14.
He noted that the statistics were relevant because as more citizens connect to the internet, they become more exposed to cyber-attacks.
“While digitalisation is bringing remarkable economic and societal benefits to the majority of the global population, it is worth noting that these technologies, irrespective of the opportunities they create, have inherent risks such that when taken advantage of by cyber-criminals, could have detrimental effects on individuals, enterprises, societies and nations at large,” he stated.
Mr. Antwi-Boasiako explained that studies have shown that increasing reliance on the internet has created more risks and vulnerabilities and opened up new possibilities for criminal activity.
“In recent years, there have been several major cyber incidents that have significantly impacted businesses, including financial institutions and other critical information infrastructure worldwide”.
‘That is to say, as dependency on digital technologies surges, so does cyber-crime,” he lamented.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako reiterated that cyber-criminals are seizing every opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities against people, businesses and organisations; having a grave impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and networks, including critical information infrastructures.
“As of the first half of 2022, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GH) at the Cyber Security Authority has received a total of 7,135 contacts through the various points of contact launched in 2019,” he explained.
Out of 7,135 contacts made, 309 were recorded as cyber-security-related incidents.
“The top 5 incidents received from the public include online fraud; 110 incidents, unauthorised access; 89 incidents, online blackmail; 58 incidents, online impersonation; 23 incidents and publication of non-consensual intimate images recorded 10 incidents,” he added.
He said the proliferation of cyber-attacks targeting individuals, businesses and critical infrastructure led to the passage of several mandatory cyber-security regulations.
“Globally, regulatory compliance has become one of the most effective and reliable strategies to mitigate cyber risks within the industry,” he mentioned.