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The Cybersecurity Authority (CSA), in collaboration with the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, has hosted a workshop aimed at strengthening the mental health and personal safety of Child Online Protection frontliners.

Held on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in Accra, the workshop was on the theme: “AI, Online Harms & The Human Cost: Strengthening Frontline Resilience.” The event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, the private sector and international partner organisations to discuss the psychological toll of working with harmful online content and the need for stronger support systems for officers in the field.

In his welcome address, the Ag. Deputy Director-General for Regulatory Operations at the CSA, Dr. Jamal Seidu Tonzua, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their collaboration and emphasised the importance of such workshops in protecting the health and safety of officers who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of children online.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society and international bodies to address the mental health needs of both children and officers.

In her keynote address, the Executive Director of Inhope Global Mission, Mrs Samantha Woolfe, highlighted the serious health risks and emotional strain officers face as a result of regularly viewing Child Sexual Abuse Material and other inappropriate content.

She said the workshop was necessary because of the growing psychological burden on frontline officers, adding that Inhope Global Mission remains willing to support individuals affected by the distressing material they encounter in the course of their work.

Some participants shared experiences on how exposure to disturbing content affected her mental wellbeing, revealing the hidden emotional toll of working in child online protection and the importance of early intervention and support.

A presentation by Dr. Daniel Adjei, a psychiatrist, stressed the need to seek professional help when warning signs begin to appear. He encouraged officers to speak up when they experience symptoms such as depression, sleeplessness or recurring intrusive images of inappropriate content. He further advised participants to take regular breaks from work, engage in leisure activities such as games, consult a psychologist, and speak with colleagues or supervisors when under pressure.

The workshop concluded with a call for expanded awareness campaigns on mental health for both officers and children. Participants agreed that sustained education, institutional support and stronger partnerships across sectors are essential to improving resilience and safeguarding those at the front line of child online protection.

Other participants at the event were the Director of Outreach and Awareness at the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, Dr. Gabriel Ofori Appiah; the Medical Doctor at the Ghana Police Service, Dr. Alex Ackon; the Lead, Child Online Protection at the CSA, Mr. Jonathan Letsa; and the Banking Operations, Risk and Cyber Security Executive at the Ghana Association of Banks, Mrs Audrey Mnisi Mireku.