[ 2016-11-24 ]

US lauds Ghana's ICT sector
Mr Robert P. Jackson, United States, has lauded
Ghana's vibrant and dynamic Information and
Communications Technology community, for driving
innovations in information technology software,
hardware development and the implementation of
mobile services.

He said, these innovations were improving Ghana's
ability to compete in world markets in the diverse
areas of textiles, energy, and commodities.

'Ghana's internet penetration rate is growing by
nearly 40 per cent every year. That upward
trajectory is expected to continue for the next
several years,' Mr Jackson stated in his address
at the opening of the 2016 National Cyber Security
Conference in Accra.

He said the internet and information technology
were playing an increasingly significant role in
the lives of Ghanaians.

'There is so much good that can result from
embracing this new technology. However, we must
not ignore that in this increasingly networked
world, there are bad guys out there seeking to
take advantage of users like you and me, create
havoc, and cause harm for their own commercial,
political and social gain,' he said.

Citing the Global Risks 2015 report, published
last January by the World Economic Forum, Mr
Jackson said the report gave a rather stark
warning: '90 per cent of companies worldwide
recognise they are insufficiently prepared to
protect themselves against (cyber attacks).'

He said cyber criminals could even sabotage the
government or companies in the form of 'denial of
service attacks,' which flood web services with
bogus messages and sometimes disable systems and
infrastructure.

The Ambassador said following reports of
high-profile breaches, more governments were
focused on raising awareness of cyber-related
risks; and they were building resilience against
attacks, intrusions, and security failures.

'The US government is committed to working
alongside our Ghanaian counterparts to tackle
these issues.

'We are providing technical expertise and targeted
training that supports the efforts that the
Government of Ghana is already making to improve
its cyber security. However, I will be the first
to admit that we do not have all the answers. We
are still learning ourselves,' he said.

'And there is no 'one size fits all,' approach.
Ghana's agenda to strengthen cyber security and
combat cybercrimes should be tailored to match
Ghana's own realities and aspirations.

'It is ultimately up to the Government... with
input from the private sector and civil society,
to articulate its objectives, define its
priorities, and allocate resources to address the
nation's cyber concerns,' he said.

Mr Jackson commended Ghana for initiating a
dialogue with the US on cyber issues; and that
Ghana already had a Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERT) that stands ready to respond to
cyber-attacks.

He said Ghana was drafting documents to join the
Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, an
international treaty designed to address
cybercrime by harmonising national laws and
increasing cooperation among nations.

This, according to the Ambassador is a significant
step in bringing Ghana's already strong legal
cyber Security framework into greater alignment
with the international community.

He applauded the approval of the Ghana's National
Cyber Security Policy and Strategy; which
according to him would be a living document that
Ghana could continue to build upon and improve as
technology and conditions change.

'Attacking the threat of cyber-criminal activity
requires a whole-of-government and
multi-stakeholder approach. No single government,
and no single organisation, has all of the
resources and expertise to combat the advanced and
persistent cyber-attacks that are being launched
today,' Mr Jackson said.

He said a vibrant partnership between government
and the public and private sectors was essential
to an effective cyber Security policy.

'Throughout this process, as we seek collaborative
solutions to improve cyber security, we must also
recognise the importance of maintaining and
protecting freedom of speech, including Internet
freedoms and the right of free speech,' he said.

He said the US and Ghana were both members of the
Freedom Online Coalition, and they value their
mutual support for freedom of expression online.

Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, a Deputy Minister of
Communication, announced that Cabinet had approved
Ghana's accession to the Budapest Convention on
cyber-crime.

The Convention pursues as a matter of priority a
common criminal policy aimed at protecting
countries against cyber-crime by adopting
appropriate legislation and fostering
international cooperation.

Mr Ofosu Kwakye said to tackle the cyber menace;
the Ministry in collaboration with the
International Telecommunications Union established
the National Computer Emergency response team to
coordinate handling and sharing of cyber
intelligence with all network operators in the
country.

Source - GNA

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