The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) of the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with UNICEF is expected to celebrate Africa safer Internet Day, tomorrow.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Ghana Education Service, National Communications Authority, Child Online Africa and the Parents and Teacher Association (PTA) Council are expected to be involved in the celebration.
A statement from the Ministry of Communications said yesterday that this year’s event was focusing on the theme “Positioning and Partnering for Child Online Protection.”
“This year’s theme acknowledges deficiencies identified in the continent’s Child Online Protection (COP) efforts juxtaposed with the requirements from the revised International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) 2020 COP Guidelines,” it said.
The statement added that “Africa Safer Internet Day is tailor-made to suit the peculiar needs and conditions of the African region and is aimed at raising awareness on emerging online issues and the corresponding strategies for resolution,” saying further that “the celebration has been observed in Ghana over the past three years by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) of the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana.
According to the statement, governments are anticipating that at least 75% of countries in Africa will be in the process of developing country-specific COP strategies by the end of 2021 with reference to the ITU COP Guidelines developed for the region, saying, “The ASID celebration is consistent with the National Cyber security Awareness Programme dubbed ‘A Safer Digital Ghana’.”
“This is a flagship initiative launched by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and implemented by the NCSC to build capacity and raise awareness on cybercrime as well as improve the country’s cyber security readiness among children, the public, businesses and government,” the statement said, adding,
“The child online protection function is prioritised under the Africa Safer Internet Day celebration and constitutes the basis for the implementation of the major Child Online Protection initiative by the NCSC.”
It said, “Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the mode of celebration this year will be different from previous editions which have always been delivered through physical engagement with students from selected senior high schools.”
“Some radio and television networks, social media and online news portals, newspapers and available virtual platforms have been earmarked to observe this year’s celebration. The event is expected to help sensitise and reorient children, young people, parents & guardians and educators on the safe use of the internet while contributing to the capacity building and awareness generation for an improved cyber security culture among Ghanaians,” it added.