Government has set up an Inter-Ministerial Advisory Committee and a National Cyber Security Secretariat as Ghana begins the implementation of a National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy, the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed.<\/p>\n
The two bodies have been tasked to advise, devise and oversee a robust defense of Ghana\u2019s cyber security assets, especially in light of the Akufo-Addo government\u2019s digitisation agenda as part of plans to formalise the economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rapid growth of exponential technologies in the country, comes with its associated security concerns. In view of this impending threat, our government has set up an Inter-Ministerial Advisory Committee and a National Cyber Security Secretariat as we begin the implementation of our National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are determined to take the necessary steps to ensure the enactment and enforcement of Cyber Security Laws in order to strengthen the local industry and attract foreign investments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will also ensure that global standards and practices are adhered to in the deployment of these technologies,\u201d the Vice President stated at the opening ceremony of the 2017 edition of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence\u2019s Innovation week in Accra on Tuesday December 5, 2017.<\/p>\n
The theme for the Innovation Week is \u201cExponential Technologies and Innovations, A Key Enabler for Accelerated Economic Development\u201d, and brings together technology service providers, students, and tech innovators for interactive sessions and knowledge sharing.
Cyber security has been high on government\u2019s agenda in the wake of several high profile data breaches across the world and, with a Digitisation agenda, the Ghana government is determined to leave no stone unturned to protect the data of her citizens, the Vice President assured.<\/p>\n
Dr Bawumia explained that implementation of the Akufo-Addo government\u2019s Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) policy \u201cis one that will see to the realization of our vision to transform this nation into an Information-rich Knowledge-based economy through the development, deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the economy and society\u201d, and the protection of such data was crucial for its acceptance by local players in the industry and help attract foreign partners.<\/p>\n
Technical work has meanwhile been completed on the interoperability of the financial system and the full implementation is expected to begin in January, adding another plank to Government\u2019s plan to formalise the Ghanaian economy.<\/p>\n
Explaining the rationale behind the drive for interoperability, Vice President Bawumia stated: \u201cWe need to formalize this economy, and to do so in a hurry, and this is why we have moved to bring in place the digital drivers\u2019 licence, digital vehicle registration, digital online registration of businesses at the Registrar General, Paperless port and also interoperability that we are about to introduce.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinancial inclusion is very key to the economy. We have to make sure everybody practically has a bank account; this is how we are going to change the economy. Everyone has to have a bank account. So many people, close to 70% of our population do not have a bank account; that has to change but for that to happen the technology must be available for it to happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally I\u2019m glad to say the technical work has been completed on the interoperability of the financial system and by January we should have it go live. We will launch interoperability so that whether you are using a mobile phone or a traditional bank account you can all communicate and send money across. Practically where we are heading is wanting everybody to have a bank account and this is where we expect to be next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: Ghana\/Starrfmonline.com\/103.5FM<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Telesol-ad.jpg\")
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