A national cyber security policy and strategy validation workshop to discuss the need for a detail implementation framework of the national cyber security draft policy developed to serve as a road map to achieve results on the fight against cyber crime opened in Accra on Thursday.

The workshop is also to discuss the need for cyber security and cyber crime laws, harmonization with AU conventions, and Ghana’s and Budapest Convention.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Communication, the workshop attracted stakeholders including, internet service providers, National Communication Authority and all others working in the sector.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications said, government was determined to fight the menace of cyber crime to ensure that Ghana’s cyberspace was safe.

He said this therefore called for a framework that would be a guiding principle and working document to help identify cyber threats and fight the crime, because a lot of Ghanaians used the internet especially children.

Dr Boamah said about 15 millions patronized the internet on a daily basis, adding that the internet had a lot of positive as well negative impacts, and it was the negative one that government was ready to fight.

He said almost every sector was getting hooked onto the internet, adding that if for example there should there be cyber fraught with the ATM services at the banks, one could image what would happen.

He said government would continue to work closely with the local partners, as well as international bodies, such as the ITU, other development partners and neighbouring countries, to mitigate the threats

He said the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), had also been put in place, adding that “we had traced some cyber crime problem to the specific computer; it is believed that with this put in place we will be able to trace the source of the crime.'

Mr Eric Akumiah, resource person, National Cyber Security Policy, said the vision of the cyber security policy was to secure the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), and make it resilient, and for Ghana to be self-reliant in securing its cyber space by infusing a culture of security to promote stability, social well being and wealth creation of our people.

All actors in law enforcement, national security, network security practitioners in government and business, and the public will take part in the vision.

He said the policy currently stood on eight pillars, namely, legislative and regulatory framework, effective governance, cyber security technology framework, cyber security technology framework, research & development towards self-reliance, compliance and enforcement, cyber security emergency readiness, international cooperation.

According to Mr Akumiah, the policy targets users, including consumer, corporate, wireless cell devices, telephones, personal digital assistant, wireless carrier’s transport, local area, metropolitan area and wireless area.

He said a five-year renewable action plan had also been developed.