Cyber Security in Ghana – The story so far

Ghana24| Spetember 1, 2021Christiana Afua Nyarko| CYBER SECURITY IN GHANA

The world today is experiencing a huge expansion in web connectivity as a result of the astronomical improvements in information and communication technologies (ICT). This barrier-breaking tool of convenience by which individuals, organizations, businesses, and states exchange information via the internet and the world wide web has advanced over the years; becoming a critical part of our everyday existence. From trade and commerce, knowledge and information sharing to international engagements and diplomacy, cyberspace space has become an unavoidable necessity.

This development, however, came with its own challenges of exposing the world to a complex maze of transnational threats in cyberspace, that is the usage of cyber technologies to deliberately disrupt, compromise and even destroy others, businesses, and organizational entities; a canker that the world, including Ghana has to deal with in this era. The threats have become increasingly widespread according to Devermont & Harris (2021) cited on the page of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Despite measures and policies put in place to ensure maximum protection of Ghana’s cyberspace such as the enactment of the electronic Act 772 of 2008, the establishment of The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) in 2018 under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and the recent passing of the cyber security Act in 2020, the country’s cyberspace continues to face enormous threats, making Ghana one of the hotspots as far as cybercrime is concerned.

Furthermore, very limited research, education has been carried out on the issue, which according to Barfi, Nyagorme & Yeboah (2018) has led to more ‘speculations and perceptions. This is further made worse by policymakers who have done very little to salvage the status quo.

The situation of Cyber security in Ghana

Cybercrime- an ever-growing transnational threat is increasingly becoming a major concern in the country as the use of the internet surges especially, with the increase in ownership of smart devices such as cellphones, tablets and iPads, laptops and desktops, and many more.

In the 21st century where a states’ power is not only measured by military might, arms/nuclear stockpile, or level of industrialization but, also by technological and cyber prowess, it has become impossible to downplay the power, influence, and ability of cyberspace to build, rally for mass action and support as well as destroy countries as witnessed through various occurrences such as the Arab Spring, black lives matter, fix the country, bring back our girls and the like.

The situation of Cyber security in Ghana, over these few years has been encouraging due to several improvements mainly by Government and cyber technology stakeholders as credible statistics prove below:

According to the Global Cyber Security Index (GCI) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2020 report (Pg.28), Ghana ranked third after Mauritius and Tanzania respectively with a score of 86.69 percent – an improvement from the previous ratings of 32.6 percent and 43.7 percent in 2017 and 2018. The data puts Ghana in the positive limelight on the continent and globally.

The above achievement is attributed to policy actions such as the revision of the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy which provided a national direction and implementation plan for the country’s cybersecurity development; not forgetting the Cyber Security Act 1038 (2020) which provided a legal cushion, the ratification of international conventions & treaties such as the Convention on Cybercrime in Budapest-Hungary, the AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea just to name a few.
Despite this good news, the cyber security space of Ghana is still laced with threats. Cyber-related crimes are on the rise and increasingly becoming sophisticated; victimizing thousands of individuals, businesses, organization and the like.

Cyber-related crimes such as Identity fraud/theft, estate fraud, fake gold dealership, mobile money fraud, internet blackmail and ‘Sakawa’ or 419 (i.e., West African voodoo-aided internet scamming) remain the common ones in the country today.

Identity fraud involves activities of contacting victims on social media or dating sites where they are often manipulated into sending monies/gifts for different reasons including promises of marriage, offering of assistance or favour and so on. Older wealthy or affluent men and women living abroad often fall for this type of scam.
Fake gold dealership usually targets online investors looking for a short-term profit. These online scammers pose as liaisons to popular or lucrative gold mines in Ghana and send photos or videos of real gold bars or mining sites to gain the confidence or trust of the victim with a subtle plan of extracting huge down payments after which the scammer either deactivate account or remain dormant.

Estate fraud- though this type of crime existed before the emergence of the internet, scammers have taken it to a complicated level. Usually targeting Ghanaians living abroad and other foreigners wishing to buy a residential property in the country. Scammers set up fake real estate websites advertising sales of either luxury or affordable housing with the intention of extracting huge amounts of money from their unsuspecting victims.

Blackmail, on the other hand is an ever-growing online scam involving perpetrators who are able to successfully lay hands on computer or pen drives of victims either by theft or scavenging through scraps on e-waste dumpsites and secondhand IT Markets. Ghana plays host to one of the largest e-waste dumping grounds and a huge market for secondhand tech products in the world- thereby causing the crime to flourish. A well-documented example occurred in 2009 when a 27-year-old Eric Kwame Agbosu leaked details of crucial information on a discarded drive of Florida-based Congressman, Robert Wexler after threatening him into make huge payments to him. Wexler reported the matter to the US Police who later liaised with the Ghana Police Service to arrest this young scammer.

As for mobile money crimes, many ordinary and middle-class Ghanaians can relate as they will be able to narrate stories of how they have been duped via this medium. This popular fraud requires just a phone call or text from scammers posing as either a staff of a mobile telephony/internet company, clearing agent and many more with a plan to take mobile money PIN numbers or cash payments after narrating or issuing bogus but well-crafted stories and notifications aimed at raking deposited monies from victims’ mobile money accounts or swindle them into making payments into their fake accounts after which victim’s number is blocked.
The above information should ring a bell in the minds of Ghanaians that cybercrimes is well entrenched in the country with past records attesting to its rampancy despite, recent progress made in fighting the canker.

Can Ghana ensure effective cyber security?

It is true that Government and other Information Technology institutions and stakeholders have helped to create mechanisms, drafted policies and measures in a bid to position the country to seal loopholes and fight cyber-related crimes however, Arise Ghana Youth Foundation believes there is more room for improvement.

Though institutions such as The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) under the Ministry of Communications and Cyber Security Act 1038 (2020) as an established legal instrument, AGY believes that what is needed more is a dedicated and centralized agency tasked with conducting extensive research into the area to locate shortcomings in order to deal with it effectively.

Furthermore, coordinating and centralizing standards to fight menace as well as maximizing the implementation of signed international treaties and Conventions is key. Moreover, Ghana must step up its coordination and engagement with the private sector, foreign partners such as the US Department of State and Justice, US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the British MI6, etc. to build capacities, exchange information which Motiwala (2017) argues, will bolster Ghana’s cyber security capabilities.

Finally, more deliberate resourcing of Crimefighting bodies such as the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) must be done in order to win the war on cyber-criminal activities in the country.

READ: The Next Chapter in Mobile Innovation: Unfold Your World with Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

Conclusion
The ever-rising concerns on cyber security with its negative impact on financial, information and security breaches must awaken all Ghanaians to the realization that this is a ‘cancer’ that has to be nibbed in the bud before it gets out of our control.

Image by Darwin Laganzon from Pixabay
REFERENCES
1. Kyeremeh, Henry (2018): “Ghana’s National Cyber Security Policies with best practices and Strategy: Critique & Comparison @ www.ghanatalksbusiness.com

2. Warner, Jason (2011): Understanding Cybercrime in Ghana: A view from below, International Journal of Cybercriminology Vol. 15- Harvard University @ www.cybercrimejournal.com

3. University of Nebraska (2018): “The internet users and cybercrime in Ghana: Evidence from Senior High Schools in Brong-Ahafo Region” @ www.digitalcommons.unl.ed/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4891&context=libphilprac

4. Motiwala, Adams (2017): “Cyber Security in Ghana: Evaluating readiness for the future”- Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) @ www.wathi.org/watinote-election-ghana-situation-securitaire/cyber-security-in-ghana-evaluating-readiness-for-the-future-kaiptc/

5. Happy, Slap (28th April,2014): “Ghana Internet Criminals cash in on e-waste dumping” @ www.scamsurvivors.com/forum/newtopic.php?f=4&t=20961

6. Devermont, Judd & Harris, Marielle (2021): “Digital Africa: Leveling Up through Governance and Trade”, Center for Strategic and International Studies @ https://www.csis.org/analysis/digital-africa-leveling-through-governance-and-trade

7. United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) – Cyber policy portal @ https://www.unidir.org

8. Global Cyber Security Index (2020), pg. 28 – International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Report @ https://www.itu.int

9. Ministry of Communications website@ https://www.moc.gov.gh, http://www.cybersecurity.gov.gh

10. “Ghana ranked 3rd in global cyber security index” : (1st July, 2021) at 8:40am, @ www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-ranked-3rd-in-global-cybersecurity-index

About The Author

Ghana24

See author's posts