By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
The Africa Centre for Digital Transformation (ACDT) has cautioned the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of upcoming presidential elections – urging heightened vigilance against potential cyberattacks that may threaten the electoral process’s integrity.
As digital transformation continues to permeate all aspects of Ghanaian society, including electoral processes, it said the risk of cyber-attacks has become a critical concern that requires urgent attention and comprehensive strategies.
In light of increasing concerns surrounding cybersecurity threats to democratic institutions, the ACDT emphasises the critical importance of safeguarding electoral systems from malicious actors seeking to disrupt or manipulate the election outcome through cyber means.
Providing a background context, ACDT narrated that Ghana faced cyberattacks on the EC’s website during the 2016 elections – leading to temporary shutdowns. Similarly, during the 2020 elections numerous cyber threats targetted the electoral process, prompting enhanced cybersecurity measures that the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Cybersecurity Authority worked collaboratively with the Commission to mitigate.
ACDT is therefore urging the EC to be vigilant on potential cyber threats that may impact the integrity and security of Ghana’s upcoming December 7th elections.
Executive Director-ACDT, Kwesi Atuahene said: “As we approach the presidential elections, the Electoral Commission must take proactive steps to enhance its cyber defences and fortify its systems against potential threats. Cyberattacks can potentially undermine trust and credibility of the electoral process, and we must remain vigilant in safeguarding our democratic principles”.
The ACDT recommends implementing robust cybersecurity measures, including strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure, capacity building and training, public awareness campaigns, collaboration with international bodies and incident response planning.
“Investing in robust cybersecurity measures to protect electoral systems from cyber threats includes regular security audits, penetration testing and ensuring the use of updated and secure software. Also, providing comprehensive training for electoral officials and IT personnel on best cybersecurity practices. This ensures that they are well-equipped to detect and respond to potential threats promptly,” he added.
Furthermore, the ACDT encourages collaboration between the Electoral Commission, government agencies and cybersecurity experts to collectively strengthen the electoral infrastructure’s resilience and ensure integrity and fairness for the upcoming presidential elections.
Election-related cyberattacks in West Africa
Cyberattacks during elections in West Africa have become a growing concern, with several notable incidents reported in recent years.
In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported cyberattacks during the 2015 and 19 elections. The attacks included attempts to hack into the Commission’s database and spread disinformation online. While some systems were compromised, INEC stated that these attacks did not affect the overall election results.
Similarly, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone also reported cyberattacks in 2018. Liberia and Senegal, in 2017 and 19 respectively, both experienced cyberattacks including phishing attacks, hacking attempts on the Electoral Commission and disinformation campaigns.
These incidents underline the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect the integrity of electoral processes in West Africa.
