Ghanaian youth have been urged to become more vigilant online and protect themselves from extremist groups that are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to recruit and manipulate vulnerable individuals.

The call was made by speaker, author and information security expert, Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, during a post-book launch public lecture at the ICT Auditorium of Tamale Technical University on Saturday, June 27.

Addressing students, lecturers and members of the public, Dr. Abukari cautioned that online radicalisation had become an emerging security concern, with extremist networks taking advantage of social media and other digital platforms to identify and influence young people.

The lecture, organised by the Africa Research Center for Information Security (ARCIS) in collaboration with Tamale Technical University, was held under the theme: “Clicks, Contents & Consequences: How Digital Platforms Enable Radicalism and Youth Exploitation in Ghana.” It also featured discussions on Dr. Abukari’s newly launched book, The Digital Radicalism.

According to him, many young people unknowingly expose their frustrations, beliefs, grievances and distrust of institutions through their online activities, creating digital footprints that can be exploited by extremist recruiters.

He explained that cyber extremists closely monitor comments, posts and interactions on digital platforms before gradually manipulating targeted individuals through misinformation, deceptive narratives and false promises.

“People unknowingly leave behind digital footprints that can expose their emotions, beliefs and vulnerabilities. Extremist groups analyse these patterns and gradually exploit them through misinformation, false promises and carefully crafted narratives,” Dr. Abukari said.

He urged young people to think critically before engaging with online content, verify information from credible sources and avoid sharing personal information that could expose them to exploitation.

Dr. Abukari further encouraged students to cultivate a strong reading culture and continuously educate themselves on emerging digital threats to strengthen their resilience against online manipulation.

Beyond individual responsibility, he called on parents, teachers, policymakers, technology companies, civil society organisations and the media to work together to promote digital literacy and online safety among young people.

He also recommended that public awareness campaigns on cybersecurity and digital radicalisation be translated into local Ghanaian languages and disseminated through radio, television, community outreach programmes and digital media to reach wider audiences.

Touching on broader technological developments, Dr. Abukari acknowledged the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence but warned that the technology was also transforming labour markets, with nearly 55 per cent of jobs expected to experience significant disruption in the years ahead.

He therefore urged educational institutions to equip students with future-ready digital and technological skills to enable them to adapt to an increasingly AI-driven economy.

As part of his commitment to youth development, Dr. Abukari announced a scholarship initiative to support five financially challenged students of Tamale Technical University.

Under the initiative, two students from the Computer Science Department, two from the Marketing Department and one student from any other department will receive full tuition support. Three of the beneficiaries will be female, while two will be male.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by participants, who described it as a practical demonstration of the need to invest in young people while equipping them to navigate an increasingly complex digital environment.

The public lecture formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen public understanding of cybersecurity, responsible digital citizenship and the growing risks posed by online extremism in an increasingly interconnected world.

About The Author