Ola Senior High School has emerged winner of the National Cybersecurity Challenge organised by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).
The competition aims at enhancing awareness on cybersecurity best practices for students, addressing the increasing vulnerability of students online, and equipping students with the skills to interact with digital technology confidently, safely and responsibly.
This year’s edition was divided into four zones: namely the Northern, Middle, Eastern and Southern zones, with 50 senior high schools representing all 16 regions of the country.
The contestants were taken through child online protection (COP) provisions in the Cybersecurity Act, (Act 1038), 2020; and digital footprint, social engineering and open-source intelligence, among others as part of preparations for the competition.
Following four rounds of testing the final participants with both theoretical and practical questions, Navrongo SHS of Northern Zone secured the 4th runner-up position with 34 points. Meanwhile, Prempeh College and Wesley Girls of the Middle and Southern Zones jointly finished in second place with 38 each.
The NCC is a government initiative spearheaded by the CSA with an aim of promoting cyber safety and awareness among senior high school students, by providing them with hands-on experiences in identifying, preventing and mitigating cyber threats.
The acting Director of Child Online Protection at CSA, Afua Brown-Eyeson, emphasised the importance of parents and law enforcement taking responsibility for protecting children from Internet abuse in her remarks.
The CSA is dedicated to safeguarding children’s online well-being, in accordance with its duty to oversee and advance cybersecurity in the nation. Ms. Brown-Eyeson noted that through working with key partners, the agency has established a national framework for child online safety to address online abuses.
She mentioned that passage of the framework will help the CSA to punish individuals who abuse children online, and provide guidelines on how children can stay safe while online.
The team from Ola SHS gave an impressive performance with their comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles. Their demonstrated expertise earned them the competition’s Overall Champion award.
The National Cybersecurity Challenge not only showcased the talent and potential of young students in the field of cybersecurity, but also highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity awareness and education in Ghana.
Navrongo SHS was awarded for producing the best social media video during the challenge. Additionally, Angela Boateng of Ola SHS was recognised as Outstanding Female Student in the challenge.
