Dignitaries at the event. INSET: Moctar Yedaly
Africa Programme Director, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) and GC3B Special Envoy, Moctar Yedaly, has urged countries on the Continent to unite in the fight against cyber attacks.
According to him, it is only through strong collaboration and investment in cyber security that the technological future of countries can be secured.
“Cyber security must be a national enterprise and sufficient resources must be made available,” he said.
Mr. Yedaly was speaking at the launch of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) in Accra on the theme, “Promoting a Culture of Digital Safety.”
He said education, comprehensive cyber security policy and the creation of an ecosystem in which governments across Africa lead, are steps that must be taken to ensure digital safety for all.
Deputy Minister of Communication, Ama Pomaa Boateng, who launched the month-long event, said NCSAM is of great significance as it allows stakeholders to reflect upon the growing realm of cybersecurity, which is critical to ensuring the country’s resilience and security in today’s digital age.
Madam Boateng said the cybersecurity industry is a rapidly evolving one presenting people with increased opportunities and challenges, highlighting that even with priority placed on protecting electronic information, there is ample reason for businesses, organisations, and the public to be concerned.
She said according to INTERPOL’s Global Crime Trend Summary Report of 2022, ransomware, phishing, online scams, and hacking are perceived as significant threats worldwide.
“These reports are evidence of the risks that accompany the opportunities presented by the digital space, and we cannot gloss over their devastating impact on the nation as a whole,” she said.
Madam Boateng further stated that within the last five years, the country has taken progressive steps towards the development of cybersecurity including the ratification of international treaties like the Convention on Cybercrime also known as the Budapest Convention and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security & Personal Data Protection, known as the Malabo convention.
“In June this year, the country signed the Second Additional Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation and Disclosure of Electronic Evidence to the Budapest Convention.
We have also ensured the institutionalisation of cybersecurity to foster regional cooperation through the adoption of the ECOWAS’ Regional Cybersecurity Cybercrime Strategy and the Regional Critical Infrastructure (CII) Protection Policy to strengthen Ghana’s international response in fighting cybercrime and to improve cybersecurity,” she said.
Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako in his remarks said with advancing technology, crime has accelerated, and criminals have learnt to adapt and evolve.
He noted that cybercrime comes in many forms including hacking, identity theft, and phishing to malware attacks.
“With a click of a button malicious actors can now carry out cyberthreats that drastically affect the citizens, businesses, and governments.
To propel the digital growth of our dear nation, we must pay rapt attention to the nuances of the operations of these criminals,” he stated.
Dr. Antwi-Boasiako said the approach toward digital resilience must be backed by science as opposed to ad hoc measures.
He said the African continent is experiencing rapid economic development adding that over the past 20 years, the combined GDP of the continent has increased exponentially from US$ 695.88 billion in 2002 to USD 2.98 trillion in 2022 with GDP growth for 2023 estimated between 3 to 4% to exceed US$4 trillion by 2027.
He further added that the cumulative growth of African economies reflects the continent’s huge potential to contribute to an increase in demand for Internet and digital services.
There has been an overwhelming economic shift across the continent, with many countries digitising essential sectors of their economies. Such transformation presents the continent with a vast number of benefits and opportunities to leverage on.
However, the challenges cannot be lost on us. In the first half of 2022 and 2023, Positive Technologies, a reputable cybersecurity research organisation, reported that the globally financial sector was the most-hit with cyberattacks recording 18%, followed by telecommunications companies (13%), government agencies (12%), trade organisations (12%) and the industrial sector (10%).
He, thus, noted that cybersecurity awareness has never been more apparent in this modern era as it goes a long way in shoring up security and promotes education on the existing threats to encourage more proactive and responsive measures.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri