US Supports Ghana to Strengthen Cyber Security

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Robert P. Jackson, says the US is committed to supporting Ghana in her efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capacity to enable Ghanaians educate and prepare themselves through internet access to successfully compete in this 21st century economy.

He said at the opening of the National Cyber Security Week 2017 Celebration in Accra, that this would help lift Ghana’s economy to new heights.

“I am pleased that the government of Ghana is committed to doing the hard work of identifying and addressing cyber threats to ensure the people of this nation can fully and more securely benefit from their right to access to the internet and the fruits of information technology,” Mr Jackson stated.

According to him, the National Cyber Security Week Celebration is an excellent time to bring cyber security stakeholders together to discuss Ghana’s cyber threat environment and develop innovative solutions that migrate cyber threats and promote a culture of cyber awareness.

He stressed that businesses, government, and private citizens had come to depend on an internet that was open, secure and reliable; adding “Digital technology and connectivity were critical to our daily lives and we must act to protect against malicious actors that use the internet to commit crimes”.

Touching on Cyber threats, he said it emanates from state-sponsored actors, criminal organisations and individual actors adding that, “they can harm our society, do substantial damage to our infrastructure, and have an enormous impact on our economies.”

He further stated that there were threats to ordinary internet users and declared that a concern in Ghana was the debt card fraud.

“Criminals target retail outlets – stores, restaurants, and gas stations – where they steal our PIN numbers for their own use and to sell to others,” he said.

He said internet fraudsters, often referred to as “sakawa boys”, had been victimising people across the world hurting Ghana’s international reputation.

The 2017 Cyber security Week on the theme “Securing Ghana’s Digital Journey,” was opened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The annual Cyber Security Week aims to create awareness of cyber security and anti-cybercrime initiatives and to build the capacity of different stakeholders within the cyber security ecosystem.

It also provides an opportunity for local and international stakeholders to engage and share ideas on cyber security initiatives being pursued within the industry and best practices.

Source: thePublisher