The members of the Western Regional branch of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) have been sensitized on the new Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) and its implications on their businesses.
The exercise formed part of the activities outlined for the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).
Speaking at the event, the Regional Chairman of the GNCCI, Mr Maxwell Archer said businesses had improved since the introduction of the digital transformation agenda as it had represented the greatest opportunity for them to transform and interface with the rest of the world.
He indicated further that digital transformation had helped the small-scale farmers as they could now grow more crops and reach wider markets.
“Despite the excitement that comes with the use of technology, increasing use of technology also presents high risks to businesses and individuals,” Mr Archer, said.
He was thus optimistic and confident that the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) would help regulate and address cyber-related issues in the country and develop Ghana’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
“I am convinced that with the passage of the Act, a concerted effort by all stakeholders would inure to a better appreciation of their role in ensuring they are all cyber secured”.
The Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, in a presentation on the Cybersecurity Act 2020, indicated that cybersecurity was important and had an impact on how the government, individuals, and businesses conducted their operations.
Explaining further that Sections 35-40 of Act 1038 provide for the protection of critical information infrastructure (CII) which directly impacted industry and commercial activities.
Dr Antwi-Boasiako said CII was critical for commerce and industry, and when attacked, would l have a direct impact on the economy and therefore the need to ensure their protection.
He urged the Western Regional branch of the GNCII to incorporate cybersecurity into their activities to help address some cybersecurity related issues and to call on the Authority for assistance in such capacity building exercises.
He indicated that cybersecurity is not just a technology problem, but also a social problem and hence the government’s role as an enabler of the country’s cybersecurity development.
Also, in Takoradi, the CSA team engaged with the members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, on the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), its implications and the role of the accountants to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
