By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, has urged African States to develop national strategies to enhance their cyber security readiness.
She said based on the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) framework, which focused on legal measures, organisational measures, technical measures, capacity development, and cooperation, Ghana had reviewed its National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, incorporating these measures.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the strategy document had been approved by the Cabinet of Ghana and was expected to be outdoored in October this year.
The Minister said this in a speech read on her behalf by Mr Kwame Baah Acheamfuor, Director International Relations, Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, at the 2024 Regional Cyber Drills for Africa.
The event, which was held in Accra, was organised by the ITU, in collaboration with INTERPOL, as part of commitments to enhancing the cyber security readiness, protection and incident response capabilities of its Member States in the African Region.
The Minister said the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy would guide Ghana’s cybersecurity efforts by creating a resilient digital environment, securing infrastructure, enhancing national capabilities, deterring cybercrime, and boosting cooperation.
“Therefore, we anticipate improved cybersecurity readiness and resilience and look forward to increased regional collaboration and information sharing,” she added.
She said according to a study by Cybersecurity Ventures in 2023, a cyberattack took place every 39 seconds in 2023, which translated into over 2,200 cases per day.
The Minister said this was a significant increase in cyberattacks compared to data reported in 2022, where an incident occurred every 44 seconds.
She said in recent years, Africa’s digital landscape had increasingly become a target for cybercriminals, who persist in exploiting the continent’s vulnerabilities.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said cybercrime had evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry, with threats such as business email compromise, phishing, banking trojans and stealers, crime-as-a-service and cyber extortion becoming increasingly prevalent.
“These are not issues confined to our governments or IT departments, but they are existential threats to our collective security, economies, and future,” she added.
She implored all participants to leverage the wealth of experience at their disposal, fortify their defenses in anticipation of future challenges, and recognise and build upon the progress being made across the continent.
Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director-General, Cyber Security Authority (CSA), said Cybersecurity Ventures estimated that global cybercrime costs would hit US$10.5 trillion by 2025, up from US$ 3 trillion in 2015.
He said Station X, a cybersecurity training and career development platform, also reported that Africa experienced an average of 2,372 cyberattacks per week in early 2024, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
The Director-General said as of September 2, 2024, the CSA had 1,433 registered Cybersecurity Professionals (CSPs), 64, Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs) and 246 Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs).
He said the CSA was determined to enforce the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) to ensure that only licensed CSPs and accredited CEs and CPs could operate cybersecurity services in the country.
Dr Antwi-Boasiako said these efforts aimed at ensuring regulatory compliance, streamlined service provision according to approved standards, and enhanced safety in the digital space, in line with domestic laws and international best practices.
“Licensing and accreditation exercises are crucial in ensuring robust cybersecurity measures, proper accreditation ensures that professionals and organisations are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge”
“Building a resilient African cyberspace requires joint efforts,” he added.
GNA