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Ghana’s significant strides in ICT development under threat – Kan-Dapaah

By PrimeNewsGhana
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Ghana’s significant strides in Information Communication Technology (ICT) development is under serious threat, due to the spate of cybercrime across various sectors of the economy, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of National Security, has said.

“Cybersecurity is adjudged to be among the top four threats to national security,” Mr Kan-Dapaah said this in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of a weeklong course on Cyber Intelligence and Forensics in Accra. 

“It is no gainsaying that cybercrime has become one of the greatest threats to global security,” the Minister said.

The course is being organised by the E-Crime Bureau, a Cybersecurity and digital forensics firm, in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC).

Mr Kan-Dapaah said although it is heart-warming to note the existence of legal frameworks such as the Electronic Transaction Act, 2008 (Act 772) and the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) aimed at regulation and adjudication, it is becoming increasingly challenging for many professionals to carry out comprehensive investigations and prosecute cybercrime offences.

“It is in this vein that I view this course on Cyber Intelligence and Forensics as a major step in our fight against cybercrime by further equipping our professionals in the various security services with adequate tools to enhance their tradecraft and knowledge,” Mr Kan-Dapaah noted.

He said Government over the past few months has taken some effective approaches to address the challenges of cybercrime, through the introduction of the Digital Address System, the National Identification System and the Paperless System at the Country’s ports.

He said government was committed to improving the forensic capabilities of the law enforcement agencies notably the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to enable officers investigate and prosecute cyber-facilitated crimes.

He said: “This course on Cyber Intelligence and Forensics is therefore, deemed as one of the many approaches that will help develop the capacity of relevant professionals who will, in turn, transfer such knowledge to their colleagues at their various workplaces”.

Mr Daniel K. Mensah, Board Chairman, E-Crime Bureau, said the joint collaboration between E-Crime Bureau and KAIPTC was to support capacity building efforts to step up Ghana’s cybersecurity readiness in view of the current ICT development across all sectors.

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