The Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, has said the ministry will soon present a national cyber security policy and strategy to parliament after Cabinet consideration.
He said government is interested in cyber security and child online protection issues, and in this regard, the Ministry of Communications has set up the National Computer Emergency Response Team to monitor the country’s cyber environment and secure some aspects of its cyberspace.
He made this statement at the 2015 Ghana Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Accra, where stakeholders in the Internet ecosystem gathered to facilitate discussions on public policy issues related to Internet governance.
He encouraged more information sharing on cybercrime to help the country get rid of cybercriminals.
The forum welcomed all stakeholders including all entities accredited by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), as well as other institutions and individuals with expertise, experience and interest.
The IGF aims to enhance linkages among discussion, recommendations and policy options coming from the various national and regional IGF sessions and rest of the Internet ecosystem.
“The discussion should be guided by the Declaration of Principles of the World Summit on the Information Society, where heads of state and government declared their common desire and commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society; where everyone can create, access, utilise and share information and knowledge to enable individuals, communities and people to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life -- premised on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and respecting fully and as well as upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“The WSIS Principles enjoin us to ensure everyone can benefit from the opportunities that ICT can offer,” he said.
To undertake this challenge, he urged all stakeholders to work together in improving access to ICT infrastructure and technologies as well as to information and knowledge.
He also urged participants to increase confidence and security in the use of ICT and also create an enabling environment at all levels.
“The building of a people-centred information society is a joint effort that requires cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders. Government as well as private sector, civil society and international organisations have important roles and responsibilities in decision-making.
“Ghana has religiously pursued multi-stakeholder consultation in the development of policies, laws and regulations to promote development of an information society in the country.
He said in the area of ICT development, Ghana has made very significant strides with over 30 million mobile subscriptions by the six telecommunications companies, and with over 59 percent mobile data penetration.
He said with an ever-increasingly complex environment, there is a need to continuously engage with different stakeholders and get them talking to each other and sharing experience for enhanced development of Internet use in the country.
“The IGF intrinsically serves to do just that; it provides opportunity to meet and share experience, and collaborate where possible to promote the Internet’s development.
He commended the Internet society, NITA and National Communication Authority for supporting this stakeholder engagement, and hoped it will continue to give us best-practice solutions to address the industry’s challenges.
Source: B&FT
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