Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has pledged the government’s commitment to cooperate with African partners and other stakeholders to develop Ghana’s cybersecurity capacity.
The government, she said, has over the years put in place a number of interventions as part of efforts to ensure a secure and resilient digital ecosystem, which include revision of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy to provide a national direction and implementation plan for Ghana’s cybersecurity development among many other interventions.
In a speech delivered on her behalf at the opening of the AU-GFCE Africa Cyber Experts (ACE) community kick-off meeting in Accra on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the Minister observed since cybercrime has no boundaries and is not limited to one geographical location, cyber resilience is very dependent on strong international collaboration arrangements.
The meeting is on the theme, “Setting the Scene for Cybersecurity Status in Africa,” with participants coming from various countries across the world including Spain, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, the Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Burkina Faso Burkina among many others.
Ghana, she said, stands ready to support, collaborate and most importantly learn from other African states as they work together to secure Africa’s digital ecosystem and that its membership of global institutions like the GFCE is very critical for capacity-building efforts on the continent.
The meeting, she said, is therefore very timely to contribute to the ongoing capacity building capacities planned to improve the domestic, regional and global response to cybercrimes.
Hon. Ursula-Ekuful expressed confidence the sessions outlined and the experts and professionals assembled for the meeting will help achieve the goal of making Ghana’s cyberspace safe for children, the public and the government.
“In line with the theme for this gathering, I urge you to discuss and generate the much-needed ideas and innovation towards improving the cyber resilience of the African continent.”
“In view of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), our continent needs directions in cybersecurity and it is our collective responsibility to increase awareness and capacity building among member states,” she stated.
The Minister stated the African Union’s “Agenda 2063” for transforming Africa, identified cybersecurity as a key priority to ensure that emerging technologies are used for the benefit of African individuals, institutions, and nation-states and to guarantee data protection and safety online.
This project, she said, is guided by the Malabo Convention adopted in June 2014 but lamented how only about 10 countries including Ghana have so far ratified the convention out of about 55 AU member states.
According to her, Ghana is also among only five African countries that have ratified the Budapest Convention and urged those who have not yet ratified the Conventions to see them as critical tools for international cooperation.
Ag. Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, in his welcome remarks, disclosed that Ghana joined the GFCE last year to promote and strengthen capacity building through international collaboration and ultimately to improve its national cyber response and resilience.
Hosting the event, he said, therefore forms part of the national strategy to work with Ghana’s peers on the continent to improve the collective capacity to mitigate cybercrimes and other cybersecurity challenges.
Head of the Economic Integration of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Towela Nyirenda-Jere, in is address remarked digitalization is no longer an option but an essential aspect of daily life as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use of the internet and ICT, he said, creates new opportunities for innovation and development and opens up opportunities for criminals to commit acts of cybercrime on a large scale.
According to him, the African Union (AU) member states adopted the Malabo Convention in 2014 in response to the need to harmonize cybersecurity legislation, policies and measures.
“The Malabo Convention aims to establish a legal framework for cybersecurity, protection of personal data and security of electronic transactions. It defines the main guidelines for the criminalization and repression of cybercrime and related issues.”
“It has currently been signed by 15 member states and will come into force when ratified by 15 member states,” he added.
