Ensuring cyber security, a collective effort – Ursula Owusu-Ekuful to stakeholders

The Ministry of Communication has emphasized on the need for all to ensure the fight for internet security is successful, stressing that it is a shared responsibility among consumers, government and the cyber workforce.

This according to the ministry, will ensure that better cyber security practices are observed in line with Government’s vision of creating a secure cyberspace for businesses and citizens.

Speaking at the climax of the 2018 National Cyber Security Week, an annual event aimed at creating awareness on Cybercrime trends around the globe, the Minister for Communication, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said the establishment of a Cyber Security Centre by her sector, will help relevant state institutions and agencies to monitor cyber security operations at the national level.

“My ministry has an oversight responsibility for government’s digitization agenda which we are actively working on to ensure the success of some initiatives being implemented by the government. This includes the National Identification System, the National Digital Property Addressing System, the introduction of the paperless ports, mobile money interoperability system, e-procurement, e-justice as well as many others.

This awareness month which is not only being observed in Accra will help us in the long run to build awareness on threats in our cyber space and put up anti-cyber-crime initiatives as well as build the capacity of the different stakeholders within the cyber security ecosystem. It is for this reason that the president, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo is interested in the establishment of a Cyber Security Centre as has been done in other countries.”

On his part, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Idrissu who was a Minister for Communication under the erstwhile Atta-Mills administration urged for collective effort in the fight against cybercrime. According to him, it was important for talks related to cyber security to be devoid of petty politics.

“The communication sector of our country has benefited from what I call, ‘consistent continuity’ in the pursuit of policies and strategies since the forth republic constitution. So from the first minister in that sector that is Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, through to former President John Dramani Mahama to speaker of parliament Mike Ocquaye to date, we have as a country situated the communication ministry of Ghana to equal many in the world. We do have a very competitive information and technology landscape in the country but much more can be done. Although things like the Data Protection Act have suffered some political interferences, it is very regrettable. But if politicians are not weary of cyber space, when there is a cyber-attack the outcome of an election will never be known. In fact, it is in the interest of the ‘survival elite’ that Ghana’s cyber space remains secured and protected.”

Adding his voice, the immediate past Minister of Communication under the Mahama Administration, Omane Boamah stressed on the diversity and dynamic nature of information technology and why it is important for Ghana as a country to invest in its cyber space.

“We need to invest more in research and in our communication sector. We also need to localize the needs of Ghanaians so they can be better addressed. We also need to strengthen our security agencies. Partnership with other countries is also important as the country can learn a lot. This will help us work towards the advancement of our cyber space. It is also important for us to invest more into child online protection and other threats threatening our cyber space.”

The month long celebration, under the theme “A safer Digital Ghana” featured a series of high level events including workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and training sessions.

It was organised by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Secretariat with support from the World Bank, ECOWAS Cyber Security Clinic for West Africa, UNICEF, the United States Government (Security Governance Initiative), Bank of Ghana and the National Communications Authority.