The Ministry of Communications on Thursday launched the National Cyber Security Week, and as the nation scales up its digitization efforts and increasingly embrace technological advancements, there is therefore the need to improve upon cyber security preparedness and adopt a multi stakeholder approach, to achieve cyber wellness.
This Cyber Security Week, is a Week-long programme which will commence from 23rd to 27th October, 2017, under the patronage of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. And it seeks to offer an excellent opportunity for information sharing, engagements and it is also a key component in building an effective and robust cyber security ecosystem in Ghana.
Speaking with the media at the launch in Accra, Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr. Vincent Odotei-Sowah said, following the global trend in fraud and sophistication in criminal activities through the use of technology, particularly the internet, it has become necessary for countries to tighten security on their cyber space.
He however said, Ghana is on high alert to check any cyber fraud, and thus, mechanisms have been put in place at sensitive areas of the country to arrest cyber frauds.
Consequently, he outlined activities for the Week programme, and noted that, the celebration would offer an opportunity to share information and engage key stakeholders on how to ensure effective and robust cyber security ecosystem in the country.
The event which is dabbed; “Securing Ghana’s Digital Journey,” according to him, would also create an avenue for cyber security vendors and service providers to showcase their services to the general public, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence, and as well create the platform for stakeholders to deliberate on issues like, Cyber Security Governance, Child Online Protection, Cyber Hygiene and Awareness, under the Topic, Cyber Security Solutions and capacity-building workshop.
The National Cyber Security Advisor, Mr. Albert Antwi-Boasiko in his remarks also said, government is on the right track in safeguarding the cyber security of the nation, by putting in place the necessary functional governance structures, in collaboration with key partners like the National Communication Authority, the Chamber of Telecommunications and the Data Protection Commission.
He however disclosed that, about 50% of the cyber security issues emanated from individual levels, therefore, there is the need for persons using various ICT gadgets to avoid releasing personal or private information onto the social media and other online portals.
He therefore, cited some of the cyber-related frauds, popularly called “Sakawa,” mobile money transfer fraud, child pornography, election rigging and violation of computer network security, industrial espionage and identification theft and among others.
Mr. Albert also spelt out some legislations that regulates cybercrime in the country, being Electronic Crimes Act, 2008 (Act 775), the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 771) and the Data Protection Act, 2012, Act (843).
Key stakeholders in expectation includes the Ministry of Communications, the National Security Secretariat, the Ministry of National Security, the African Union Commission, the National Communications Authority, the ECOWAS Secretariat.
And the rest are the United Nations Development Programme, the Council of Europe (GLACY+Project), the United States Government (Security Governance Initiative), the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Data Protection Commission, ISACA Ghana and J Initiative and Innovare and to name a few.
By:Sammy Adjei/Newsghana.com.gh
