The Minister of Communication, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has lauded the ISACA Accra Chapter for taking up the role of ensuring that, the best practices regarding information technology risks, IT governance and regulatory and legislative compliance are mainstreamed in the Ghanaian business environment.

According to her, the Ministry’s vision of ensuring a Safer Digital Ghana is certainly in line with ISACA’s vision of ensuring best practise regulatory frameworks within the governance, compliance and IT audit sectors.

Ursula made this known in her keynote address read on her behalf by the Deputy Communications Minister, Vincent Sowah Odotei at the 8th IT Audit, Information Security and Risks Insights Conference at Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Thursday July 4, 2019.

The conference, an 8th in edition is initiated by ISACA Accra Chapter in partnership with the Office of the Head of Civil Service to impart knowledge to Information Technology officers in the country in three major areas of security, risk and governance modules using the ISACA syllabus.

It is expected to equip participants address identified risks and compliance as well as meet legislative and regulatory requirements and reduce operational risk in government business.

ISACA is an independent, non-profit, global association, and its Accra Chapter is the 184th chapter within the global network of more than 120,000 professionals in 180 countries. The ISACA Accra Chapter is the largest technology-based professional body in the country today, with diverse professional backgrounds in the fields of finance, telecommunications, academia, healthcare and consumer services amongst others.

Touching on the theme of the conference, “Proactive Risk Management and Compliance in a World of Digital Disruption”, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful noted the selection of the theme is very appropriate especially at the time where technology has become the driver and enabler of socio-economic development.

She further observed that with the growth of Government’s digitalization agenda, there’s the need for security to enhance confidence in the use of these technologies and therefore commended ISACA for the initiative, adding, “fortunately, Ghana can count on professional bodies like ISACA to produce the needed manpower to protect critical national information infrastructure as well as for key industries like the banking sector, amongst others”.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful underscored the need for policy on IT officers in the Civil Service to be certified in Risk, Security and IT Governance as part of promotion exercises, to create a greater level of professionalism in the IT Service of Government and provide a greater sense of responsibility and ownership of IT Initiatives.

While pledging her outfit’s support towards ensuring a safer digital Ghana agenda including the best practice regulatory framework within the governance, compliance and IT audit sectors are achieved, she called on all stakeholders within the industry to work assiduously towards strengthening IT systems from cyber attacks.

For his part, ISACA Accra Chapter President, Carl Sackey revealed theBoard of the Chapter and the conference team settled on the theme of the conference in recognition of the fact that “these are not ordinary times that we live in and as a body that educates professionals in Security, Audit, Risk, IT Governance, Cyber Security to name a few of the certifications offered, our work can never be done if we do not address the prevailing and emerging issues”.

He furthered that ISACA as a not-for-profit body seek to influence and shape conversations as well as come up with relevant research on pertinent issues affecting nations and organizations, adding, “It is therefore a source of pride to the chapter and the larger body that the Bank of Ghana working with other bodies like the National Cyber Security Secretariat have made ISACA certifications a cornerstone of the directive issued in 2018. This is testament to the quality of professionals ISACA produces”.

While expatiating on the conference, Mr. Sackey explained the 2-day meeting would witness a lined up of seasoned professionals as speakers who will not only speak on the topics the chosen theme for the conference but will equally help address the needs of most organizations as well as share significant insights into the new world and the skills needed to traverse the minefields that Ghanaians might encounter.

“There will be live sessions where you’ll probably have cyber security professionals demonstrate how hacking attacks happen and what measures can be put in place to address them including helping dispel the myths around the regulations and let people see some of its benefits”.

The 8th IT Audit, Information Security and Risks Insights Conference brought together over 150 participants who are industry players and stakeholders from various sectors of the country (both public and private).

Some organizations whose support made the conference a success include the GCNET, Ecobank, West Blue Consulting, Stanbic Bank, MTN Ghana, CybeHawk and Oracle.