Ghana Upbeat Against Cyber Attacks

GHANA’S Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said the country was on course to safeguard its cyberspace from attacks.

This follows the completion of a national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) project in the country.

The project, which he said is due to be launched in March, is in line with the framework of the International Telecommunications Union-International Multilateral Partnership Against Cybercrime Threats (ITU-IMPACT)

initiative.
The Ministry of Communications entered into an agreement with ITU last year on the setting up of a national Computer Incident Response Team CIRT.

When established, it is expected CIRT would strengthen Ghana’s ability to prevent and mitigate cyber security incidents in the country.

“The project will provide Ghana with the necessary capacity and technical capabilities to build a national point of contact to respond in an effective manner to cybercrimes and cyberattacks. The project will run for six months,” Boamah said.

“This project demonstrates the commitment of Ghana to unleash the full potential of ICT by ensuring security in cyberspace and building trust and confidence in the use of the Internet.”

Boamah meanwhile rejected claims that Ghana ranked the second highest in the area of cybercrime on the African continent.

He maintained that no evidence had been produced to back such claims.

“I am willing to change my position only if the evidence has been put before me,” Boamah told ItNews Ghana.

Accounting firm Deloitte and Touche IT Auditor Jesse Arthur, in 2013, cited the lack of password policy by most service providers and other internet based related companies and other deterring legislations as some of the challenges confronting the country in addressing the cyber security issues in the country.

The Ministry has consistently warned the public to be mindful of the activities of those engage in the practice popularly known in Ghana as Sakawa.

Boamah said Ghana was working with the Commonwealth to draw up a plan to close down on those involved in the practice.