Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Divine Selase Agbeti, has told private media publishers that national security is not the exclusive responsibility of security agencies, but a shared national duty where the media is a strategic partner.
Delivering the keynote closing remarks at the PRINPAG workshop, Mr. Agbeti said the partnership does not require the media to surrender independence or become an extension of government.
He said a professional, independent and courageous press rather strengthens national security by exposing wrongdoing, countering falsehoods and holding institutions accountable.
“Freedom carries responsibility. In a volatile information environment, accuracy, context, and judgment are themselves instruments of national resilience.”
He warned that a misleading headline can spread across the country in minutes, an unverified video can trigger fear and inflame communal tensions, and a report that reveals sensitive operational details can compromise an investigation and put lives at risk.
On cyber threats, the Director-General said cybercriminals and hostile actors now exploit urgency and public trust using impersonation, compromised accounts, manipulated images, synthetic audio and coordinated disinformation.
He noted that journalists and newsrooms are both targets and potential force multipliers, because when a journalist’s account is compromised, attackers gain access to credibility and an audience.
Mr. Agbeti proposed five practical commitments from the workshop as in verification before amplifying: Security incidents, communal conflict and public emergencies must be independently verified and geolocated.
Secondly, the media must avoid disclosing tactical positions, identities of protected persons or sensitive investigative details.
Thirdly, adoption of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, updates, secure backups, access controls and designate cybersecurity focal person’s.
The forth has to do with corrections, and the Media must reach the same audience as the original error.
Strengthening structured engagement is the fifth one.
CSA will work with PRINPAG on regular briefings, awareness sessions and incident-reporting guidance.
He also urged PRINPAG to translate the lessons into a concise newsroom protocol on national security and cyber incident reporting that preserves editorial independence.
He further called on security institutions to communicate promptly, accurately and respectfully, saying classification must never serve as a convenient shield against accountability.
“Let us leave this workshop with a renewed compact: security institutions will engage the media with openness and respect; the media will exercise freedom with professionalism and responsibility.”
The PRINPAG President, David Tamekloe, had earlier on Saturday called for stronger support and partnership for the private media, saying the collaboration shows recognition of shared destiny between security agencies and the press.
The two-day residential workshop was organised by PRINPAG in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat from August, 28-30, 2026 under the theme “Media as a Strategic Partner in National Security” to train private newspapers and online publishers on responsible security reporting at The Platinium Hotel, Abokobi.
