The Deputy Minister for Communications in charge of cyber security, Vincent Sowah Odotei, has disclosed government’s intentions to prosecute individuals who engage in cybercrime.


The New Patriotic Party government implemented the National Cybersecurity policy and strategy immediately it assumed office due to the rampant cybercrimes in the country.


“We have appointed a National Cybersecurity advisor. We have set up the government’s institutional framework. We have proceeded to train and equip the CID, the EOCO and our judges to prosecute cybercrimes,” Mr Odotei explained.


Addressing the media at the launch of the 2018 Safer Internet Day in Accra, the Deputy Communications Minister also added that prosecutors, judges and forensic experts have been trained on how to handle cybercrimes since crimes of that nature occur online.


He said, “With the assistance of the Council of Europe, we have trained prosecutors, cyber forensic experts on what to look out for and how to handle cybercrimes in a manner different from traditional crimes. So what they have to do in terms of forensics, how to handle exhibits, how to handle cybercrime scenes, in a different way from the traditional crimes, they are being trained to do that. The judges are being take through the cyber laws and the evidence they must look out for and what they must use in the passing of judgment.”


The 2018 edition of the Safer Internet Day was launched at the Accra International Press Centre on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. The annual event will be celebrated in all ten regions across the nation to sensitize Ghanaians on the importance of cybersecurity.