ADF STAFF
Ghana is working to position itself as a continental leader in cybersecurity. The country has created a civilian-led cybersecurity network rooted in the country’s Ministry of Communication, but with key branches in the security and technology sectors.
On the front line of Ghana’s ongoing fight against online threats, the Cyber Security Authority, created in 2021, and the National Computer Emergency Response Team track threats in real time and coordinate the response to major events.
The authority requires all cybersecurity companies to be licensed and, as of January 1, 2023, began auditing owners of critical information infrastructure to ensure that they are operating in line with security mandates.
“Other countries across the continent have much to learn from Ghana’s approach, which has brought tremendous growth in cyber capabilities, enabled Ghana to take action to address rising threats, and reinforced trust between the government and citizens,” Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, chairman of the Africa Cyber Security and Digital Rights Organization, and Nate Allen, a cybersecurity expert, wrote in a commentary for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) also is playing a key role in the country’s strategy. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October 2022, Vice Adm. Seth Amoama, Ghana’s chief of Defence Staff, said efforts are underway to make sure all personnel understand cyber threats, possible vulnerabilities and their impact on mission readiness. The GAF is transitioning to a “paperless” work environment, making cybersecurity all the more important.
“For us in the military, cyberspace has emerged as the fifth domain of warfare alongside the traditional domains of land, sea, air and space,” Amoama said, according to Ghana Peace Journal. “It is therefore not surprising that terrorists and violent extremists’ groups are using Internet platforms to support their activities.”
Ghana’s cybersecurity success has boosted it from 89th place to 43rd on the International Telecommunications Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index. It is among just seven African countries in the top 50 globally, joining Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania and Tunisia.
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