Participants in a resolution, following the JoyNews-Youth Bridge Foundation National dialogue on cybersecurity, have charged the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to expedite action on the development of the needed Legislative Instrument that would provide the operational backing for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (1038).
The Resolution further acknowledged that the prevention of cyber-attacks and the increase in our nation’s resilience to cyber threats is a shared responsibility requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships.
The National Dialogue on Cybersecurity, held with the support of the CSA, Ecobank, HYDRA Cyber Security Services and Ghana Enterprise Association (GEA) had the focus of identifying ways of protecting citizens from cyber vulnerability. With the rapid advancements in technology comes with a myriad of cybersecurity issues of hacking, data and system breaches, denial of service attacks and therefore the significance of cybersecurity laws in an era such as this cannot be undermined.
Governments everywhere are placing a higher priority on the creation and enforcement of strong cybersecurity rules and regulations as they realize how important it is to protect sensitive data and digital infrastructure. Continental frameworks such as the AU Cybersecurity Protocol, African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Strategy all provide laid down procedures and protocols to handle cybersecurity issues within the subregion.
In Ghana, the CSA Act 2020 (1038) that established CSA provides the framework to guide cybersecurity activities. Cyber threats present serious concerns to people, companies, and governments alike. They can take many different forms, from ransomware attacks and data breaches to state-sponsored espionage. These threats are ever-changing; they are getting more sophisticated and widespread every day.
In response to this escalating threat landscape, governments all over the world are taking proactive measures to strengthen their cybersecurity position. A key component of these initiatives is the creation of extensive legal frameworks intended to improve cybersecurity resilience, ease information sharing, and discourage malicious cyber activity. Aside the growing cybersecurity economy, the youth are motivated to take advantage of cybersecurity gaps for exploitation.
Applauding the Cyber Security Authority for setting up the platform on the short code 292 for the public to report cyberspace incidents and cybercrimes and receive support, participants were convinced CSA need the supplementary legal backing in the form of the Legislative Instrument to regulate the cyber space and all associated issues that may arise.
Proposing the use of local or home-grown solutions to sanitize the cyber space, participants further called for local and international partnerships as well as funding for research and development to fully realize this expedition the legislative instrumentdevelopment processes.
Ultimately, a comprehensive cybersecurity legislative framework encompasses safeguarding our digital infrastructure and building public trust. When citizens feel confident that their data is protected, they are more likely to embrace the opportunities offered by the digital landscape.
By expediting action on cybersecurity legislation, we can establish a more secure and prosperous digital future for all.
