The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu has urged public sector workers to take personal responsibility for safe-guarding official information at their workplaces, saying fighting cybercrime was not solely the role of the government.
He said cyber security required collaboration, and that made it essential for heads of department to ensure that their staff understand and follow established security procedures.
Mr Gunu said this at the opening of the 5th Cyber Secure Volta Regional Conference in Ho on Friday (October 23).
The one-day conference, organised jointly by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and the Volta Regional Security Council (VRCC), was attended by the about 200 participants, including personnel of the security agencies, students, heads of department, and members of the public.
It was on the theme: Awareness Delayed is Loss Multiplied.
Mr Gunu said technology had transformed work and communication procedures, as well as financial transactions.
However, those benefits also came with risks, including cyber fraud, identity theft, unauthorised access to sensitive information, the regional minister warned.
“As citizens, we must understand that mishandling of official information can expose our institutions to serious risks and undermine public confidence,” he said.
Mr Gunu point out that technological progress without adequate security exposed the nation to unnecessary risks.
“Our commitment to efficient public service delivery must, therefore, be matched by a strong commitment to protecting information, systems and public resources,” he maintained.
Director-General of CSA
The Director-General of the CSA, Dr Divine Selase Agbeti said it was crucial for Ghanaians to make cyber security awareness part of their daily lives to help to spot online crimes even before they were committed.
He said human error and social engineering drove roughly 60 percent and 95 percent of all cyber security incidents, making awareness a vital defence against cybercrime.
Dr Agbeti revealed that the criminals often operated in serene communities in the Volta Region, whey the used as their base.
“So, if you notice something unusual in your communities, such as houses where many young people occupy and appear to work with laptops, phones, and internet equipment, report to the appropriate authorities without delay,” he said.
The Director-General of CSA also reminded landlords to demand proof of identity and employment before renting rooms to tenants.
“Our goal is to live in a Ghana where a student can make online payments without fear, patients who can trust their records are safe, businesses that grow with confidence, and institutions that recover quickly when an attack happens,” Dr Agbeti added.
UHAS Vice Chancellor
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor Lydia Aziato gave an assurance the university would collaborate with CSA to fight cybercrime from all angles.
She commended CSA for its vigorous campaign to educate the public against cybercrime, saying the campaign must be sustained.
