Monday, April 25, 2016

ARTICLE: "“Cyber-Security Awareness in Ghana is Below Minimum Threshold” – Cyber-Security & Forensics Expert



Episode #71
Season 4, Ep.6:


“Cyber-Security Awareness in Ghana is Below Minimum Threshold” – Cyber-Security & Forensics Expert

AFRICA IN FOCUS SHOW
ACCRA, Ghana – Cyber-security & Forensic Scientist Albert Antwi-Boasiako believes cyber security “is a collective business that runs from individual to government”. In his view, Ghana must develop a cyber-security culture “that will enable implementation of specific cyber-security legislation and measures.” 

Speaking to E.K.Bensah Jr on the “Africa in Focus Show”, which commenced a series of discussions on Ghana and Africa’s response to law enforcement and cyber-security, Antwi-Boasiako, who was speaking to Bensah from the France/Geneva border, explained that he was in Geneva to make presentations to UNCTAD during the UNCTAD e-commerce week.

Albert Antwi-Boasiako is the Founder and Principal Consultant of the Accra-based E-Crime Bureau. He has spent the past five years dedicating his life to forensic investigation and cyber-crime. In his view, the cyber-phenomenon is “a new phenomenon”. He believes that, if even the EU and the West are not fully-prepared to tackle it, how much more a country like Ghana, where agencies are likely to be handicapped to fight it. It is a given that, the financial sector will not have the capacity, and that it would need specialist skills to address and engage specific issues, too.

Definition of Cyber-Crime
The E-Crime Bureau founder explained that, cyber-crime is “any criminal activity, which is committed using cyber-space or an electronic medium.” He maintains in every jurisdiction, it is the Criminal Code that identifies specific criminal offences. What is cyber-crime in Ghana may not necessarily constitute a crime elsewhere. In principle, though, Cyber-crime refers to specific criminal activities, especially offences that constitute criminality.

That said there are two angles to the definition: there is a difference between cyber-criminality and cyber-facilitated crime.

Cyber-criminality usually involves criminal activity involving IT infrastructure. This includes when someone hacks into a protected network, such as Denial-Of-Service attack on a computer system. Conversely, cyber-facilitated crime involves traditional criminal activities – such as fraud; terrorism; blackmail; threats – that are facilitated through an electronic medium.

Situational Analysis of Cyber-security in Ghana
Antwi-Boasiako believes it’s erroneous as professionals to be asking whether Ghana is serious about Cyber-security; rather, it is important to examine the situational analysis, with a focus on the following elements.

First: cyber-security awareness, which needs to be looked through a certain matrix that includes the national; the individual; and at the corporate level. At these levels, if one were to look at the manner in which each handles electronic data, he would say that Ghana is not ready at all. In his view, Ghana’s “cyber-security awareness is far below the minimum threshold.”

Secondly, Ghana needs to look at standardization of ICT products. For example, mobile money sector is on the increase. We need as a country to be asking whether we have mechanisms to test the system before it is deployed. In this area, Antwi-Boasiako believes Ghana would also be marked low, as much more can be done.

Third, there is the issue of cyber-legislation, or what he calls “Cyber-hygiene”. These are issues he says are currently being discussed at the UN level. Antwi-Boasiako explains that, Ghana is one of the few countries with data protection. Ghana has an Electronic Transactions Act (2008); and Anti-Money Laundering legislation. However, he adds, these legislations are not themselves cyber-crime legislation. There is a Computer Misuse Act, but none in Ghana. Nigeria, he continues, has a Cyber-Security Bill (2015), and Ghana’s Evidence Act was passed in 1960 – long before personal computers.
For the Forensic Expert, handling electronic evidence needs an unambiguous law to deal with it. The laws passed recently have their own challenges. The big issue is that the legislation needs to be reviewed to be in line with contemporary trends, where e-evidence “becomes part of criminal proceedings.”

Ghanaians, for example, use smart phones, which mean evidence is in the electronic domain. Ghana, he avers, needs to empower law enforcement so that we get to the stage where we can use electronic evidence “to convict people for murder; narcotics; human trafficking; fraud; tax evasion; and terrorism.” For Antwi-Boasiako, the cyber-environment has become the “centre of gravity around current criminalities.”

Still on Ghana, he explains how Ghana is working on a National Cyber-Security Policy with the Ministry of Communications. However, it is still in Parliament. It ought to be the fundamental document that will guide all institutions in the country.

Another positive development for Ghana is the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), which he describes as a “cyber-NADMO”, or a cyber response to Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). For example, if there is a cyber-attack on Ghana’s e-sovereignty, CERT would help resolve the problem. Even then, it plays a preventative role by monitoring Ghana’s cyber-space to ensure such attacks do not happen in the first place.

State of Cyber-security at the ECOWAS/AU level
As far as the regional space is concerned, Mr.Antwi-Boasiako believes there “is no good news on ECOWAS.” The E-Crime Founder laments how in Geneva he asked a senior ECOWAS representative hoe far the region had gone on its Cyber-security work. To which the official lamented how it had stalled because of lack of funding. In 2011, Antwi-Boasiako maintains, the regional bloc signed up to a Directive against Cyber-Crime. He equally-laments how, while it is good to fight cyber-crime at the UN level, if ECOWAS can come together, “it would be useful.” For example, you could have someone living in Nigeria, and committing cyber-crime in Ghana, but being able to be tried in Ghana for prosecution if frameworks were implemented.

At the African Union level, the continental organisation has a Convention on Cyber-Crime. When one is in Europe, avers Antwi-Boasiako, one hears a lot about the so-called Budapest Convention on Cyber-Crime. According to him, it was announced the week of the interview that Senegal would be signing that international treaty, and Ghana is also to sign soon. Antwi-Boasiako worries that African Member States seem to be more receptive to the Budapest Convention than their own regional and continental initiatives, which suggests a lot more needs to be done at these two levels. He believes that, while it is good to have conventions like these, Africa’s institutions need to benefit from it.

Other international initiatives on Cyber-Security include the Council of Europe, which will help build capacity of selected West African delegates from ECOWAS countries 9-11 May in Senegal. At the UNCTAD level, the institution is helping ECOWAS member States harmonize their Cyber-laws, and help them get the countries’ legislation in line. Apart from initiatives by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime; and the US Justice Department, INTERPOL itself is also holding expert groupings and training programmes.

In Antwi-Boasiako’s view, ECOWAS needs to act with some urgency on building its capacity on Cyber-Security.

Pressed to explain why it has taken so long to implement strategies at the regional level, Antwi-Boasiako explained how it was important to put things into perspective: cyber-crime, in his view, “borders on security and national security.” Consequently, national security may not necessarily involve sharing intelligence openly with Nigerian counterparts. There are other dimensions including, the necessity of telcos coming on board, as well as the rest of the private sector.

He deduced that, ECOWAS may probably not have promoted private sector in Cyber-security, but without a shadow of a doubt, we need “more engagement so that you can bring all fragmented working groups into one pool so that” resources, expertise, and advisory services will be available. He believes this will facilitate intelligence-sharing as well.

The Way Forward on Cyber-Security in Ghana
In conclusion, it cannot be over-emphasized how much of a collective business Cyber-security remains. It is a multi-stakeholder eco-system that includes telcos; Internet Service Providers (ISPs); and even developers of systems. According to Antwi-Boasiako, each one has a responsibility to assume.

To this end, it is important Ghana pays attention to developing a Cyber-security culture, and equally-appreciates issues of Cyber-security that will eventually lead to specific actions. Our e-commerce sector is growing. We need to develop and build capacity to help detect and track the cashless environment, including anti-money laundering systems.

Finally, Ghana needs to invest in technology and policies in Cyber-security as the human factor remains the weakest link in Cyber-crime cases. By incorporating these recommendations into Ghana’s policy, we would, Antwi-Boasiako believes, be able to make a serious case in fighting cyber-crime.

ENDs
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The “Africa in Focus” Show is hosted by Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr from 14h05 to 15h00 every Wednesday on RADIO XYZ93.1FM. Since May 2014, it has been offering compelling, cutting-edge content that seeks to demystify, educate, and unpack ECOWAS, AU, & South-South Cooperation around Africa’s integration. You can download all podcasts from www.africainfocusradioshow.org. Follow the conversation on twitter on @africainfocus14, using #africainfocus. Contact Emmanuel on 0233.311.789/0268.687.653


COMING UP!>>Episode #72 (Season 4; Ep.7): Time with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)



Episode #72
(Season 4; Ep.7):  
Time with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)


Season 4 is STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We commenced the Season unpacking the nitty-gritty of the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy. In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to treat the all-important topic of customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while episode 5 helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra mid-April. Last week in episode 6, we piggy-backed on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that took place from 18-22 April concluding the show on Cyber-crime with the shocking conclusion that Ghana’s Cyber-awareness is at a shockingly low threshold.

This week, we spend time with the Accra-based West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), which is no stranger to Africa in Focus.

We ask two major questions:

First, WACSI has issued a number of recent publications that merit significant discussion. What is the rationale behind the books?

Secondly, now that the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drug policy is over, whither the centrality of WACSI’s support for civil society activism on drug policy in West Africa? WACSI was instrumental back in February 2015 in convening the West Africa Commission on Drugs to join the rest of civil society in the region to begin unpacking CSO responses to drug policy.

What does the future hold for WACSI post-UNGASS, and what are some of its upcoming activities we should look out for?


Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 27 April, 2016.
Call us on the following numbers
+233(0)289.000.931

Guest in the studio:
ØIsaac Hubert Arthur, Head of Knowledge Management, WACSI
   
***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.
Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.



Sunday, April 17, 2016

COMING UP!>>Ep.71(S04, Ep.6)>>Africa & (Cyber-) Crime (1): Time with E-Crime Bureau

Episode #71
(Season 4; Ep.6):  


Africa & (Cyber-) Crime (1): Time with E-Crime Bureau


We continue Season 4 STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We started the Season with the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy. In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to unpack customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while last weeks’ episode (episode 5) helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra last week.

This week, we are coincidentally piggy-backing on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that will take place from 18-22 April. We want to initiate a series of discussions examining Ghana’s response to cyber-crime and e-commerce.

Technology has arguably enabled Africa to leapfrog many countries – and the e-commerce sector is no different.

UNCTAD has been at the forefront assisting the ECOWAS region help develop its capacities since 2014. The first meeting in February that year targeted legislators from eight francophone West African countries to an UNCTAD-ECOWAS seminar in Dakar, Senegal, to deliberate over ways to harmonize legislation on electronic transactions; computer security and personal data protection.

A similar seminar was organized in March 2014 for Anglophone West African countries in Ghana, where one of the key recommendations included cyber law awareness campaigns; capacity-building for policymakers; legislators; police; judiciary and prosecutors; the strengthening of enforcement agencies and regional cooperation between them.

The UNCTAD-ECOWAS project aims to support the implementation at the national level of the existing legal frameworks on e-transactions; cybercrime; and personal data protection. Additionally, it addresses other important areas such as consumer protection; intellectual property rights; online content and taxation.

For this discussion, *it is a given that online transactions continue to remain a source of significant importance to governments’ enterprises*; and consumers in most parts of the world.

While it remains clear how greater reliance on e-commerce creates significant opportunities for citizens and businesses, UNCTAD believes “a lack of security and trust remains a critical barrier to such transactions.” Online fraud and data breaches continue to be a source of concern for both parties, begging for “adequate legal and regulatory responses at national and international levels.”

It is precisely for this reason that we are having our maiden conversation with E-crime Bureau.

Founded in 2011, e-crime Bureau is the first cyber-security and digital forensics firm with state-of-the-art e-Crime lab to be established and fully-operate in West Africa. It offers consultancy services; technology support and training to clients in the sub-region.

Our conversation with E-Crime is for them to help unpack for us how far Ghana has come as far as e-commerce; and cyber-crime is concerned.

What has Ghana and the sub-region done to respond to awareness-raising about cyber-crime, especially in the face of increasing attacks globally? With counter-terrorism measures on the mind of Western governments (to the extent that Europol has established an Internet Referral Unit), how is the sub-region responding to this existential threat adequately and correspondingly?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 20 April, 2016.
Call us on the following numbers
+233(0)289.000.931
Guiding questions
  • How serious is Ghana about cyber-crime & forensics?
  • What does the (policy) landscape of cyber-crime in Ghana & the ECOWAS sub-region look like?
  • Is Ghana ready & able to respond to digital terrorists in the way EUROPOL has responded with its Internet Referral Unit?
  • What’s the future of Africa’s law enforcement capabilities?

Guests in the studio:
ØAlbert Antwi-Boasiako, Founder & Principal Consultant E-Crime Bureau
   
***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.
Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.





Monday, April 11, 2016

COMING UP!>>Ep.70 (Season 4, Ep.5) | 12th CAADP Meeting: Matters Arising Around Africa’s Agriculture when the AU is in Accra



Episode #70
(Season 4; Ep.5):  


12th CAADP Meeting: Matters Arising Around Africa’s Agriculture when the AU is in Accra


We continue Season 4 STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We started the Season with the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy.

In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

Episode 3 saw us beginning to unpack customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

Last week, we revisited the topic of East Africa and its rise for the fourth time, concluding East Africa continues to rise, so it’s time in West Africa, we tweaked what has been working in that region and emulated it.

Today we are revisiting the issue of Africa’s agriculture for the third time. 

In Ep.32 (Season 2), we had our first discussion on the continental compact of CAADP.

Our earlier discussions last year had centred on the role of organisations like AgriPro, which are doing great things around the youth and agric. In 2015, the focus was necessarily continental, with a focus on what synergies can be created between the AU’s Continental CAADP Programme and the CAADP Country Teams, which are critical in the implementation of CAADP – especially at a time when CAADP has entered the next stage of Implementation and Strategy with a view to a 2025 goal.

In episode 70, we still stick with the Continental – not least because the AU is in town for the 12th CAADP Platform meeting.

The meeting in question – this year’s 12th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) – is underway at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel here in Accra.

Organized by the AU Commission and NEPAD on the theme “Innovative Financing and Renewed Partnership to Accelerate CAADP Implementation”, the meeting is an annual continental Forum that seeks to bring together stakeholders in African agriculture.

This 12th CAADP Meeting further-seeks to highlight how best to accelerate the implementation, through financial innovation and partnerships, for delivering the Malabo Declaration and the African Union Agenda 2063.
This meeting has a specific focus on helping build a shared understanding of country and regional needs and expectations to roll out the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap, including launching efforts to form technical partnerships to align with and support implementation.

CAADP faces new implementation challenges that will require evolving partnerships, including those that seek to integrate major initiatives and flagship efforts now in place that will help target the Malabo declaration.

In today’s edition, we will be speaking to Dr. Aggrey of FARA Secretariat here in Accra who will help unpack the meeting; its objectives; and the future for Africa’s agriculture.

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 13 April, 2016.

Call us on the following numbers
+233(0)289.000.931

Guiding questions
1.   Why is the 12th  CAADP Partnership Platform meeting (on the theme “Financing African Agriculture and Implementation Support for Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Transformation.”) taking place at this time? Is it a follow-up of an earlier meeting? What's the objective?

2.   Malabo is supposed to be about implementation of CAADP: how central is financing for CAADP?

3.   How central is the private sector in scaling up the discussions on CAADP?

4.   What is the expected contribution of research and innovation; and leading institutions like FARA and the Sub-regional organisations in the implementation of Malabo?

Guests in the studio:
Ø Dr. Aggrey, Director for Corporate Partnerships and Communication; Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA Secretariat), Accra

   

***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

*Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931



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