An18-member Joint Cyber Security Committee (JCC) has been inaugurated to collaborate with the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and other stakeholders for the implementation of relevant cybersecurity measures.
Established pursuant to section 13 of the Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038), committee members were appointed by the President in consultation with the CSA as provided in Section 13(4) of Act 1038.
It has Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako as chairperson, Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, Richard Okyere-Fosu, Joe Anokye, Patricia Adusei-Poku, Maxwell Opoku-Afari, Kwaku Dua, Nana Attobrah Quaicoe and COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah as members.
Other members are, ACP Frederick Agyei, Col Dr Tim Ba-Taa-Banah, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Maj Gen A.Y Nsiah, Laud Akwasi Affrifah, AMB George Abaka Blankson, Col A.K Oduah, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa and Nana Kofi Asafu-Aidoo.
Speaking at the ceremony last Thursday, in Accra, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful said the committee was to enhance awareness creation and build cybersecurity capacity in various sectors for the country’s socio-economic development.
She said they were also to enhance information sharing to aid in incident response and reporting.
Congratulating the members, Mrs Ekuful urged them to familiarise themselves with the enabling legislation.
“Your appointment and the inauguration of the JCC is an important milestone in Ghana’s cyber security development and we are hopeful that through your work, we will be able to address critical cyber security issues affecting the country, including the protection of critical information infrastructure and effective criminal justice response to cyber crimes,” she added.
The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation indicated that collaboration among stakeholders was critical because cyber security was multi-sectoral and demanded a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the issues.
Mrs Ekuful noted that we could not sustain our digitalisation efforts without cyber security as cyber-attacks could undermine our gains in digitalisation as well as our social and economic well-being and consequently, impact on our national security.
“I therefore urge you to work with the Authority and the private sector through the Industry Forum which is the process of being established,” she stated.
“This is not the time for turf wars and working in silos and you need to coordinate your efforts, collaborate and cooperate with each other to succeed,” she added.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
