The formation of an Industry Forum for the fight against cyber-crime will have a strong private sector representation aimed at safeguarding the cyber space in all sectors of the economy.

This will ensure that the Country is fully secured in the quest to digitalised activities in the country.

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful disclosed to Joybusiness in an interview after inaugurating an 18 member joint cyber security committee to be chaired by the Director General of the Cyber security Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako.

The establishment of the Joint Committee is captured by the new cyber security law as an enhanced layer to govern the fight against cybercrime.

The 18 member committee which includes individuals from the security, financial and telecommunication industry among others will complement the work of stakeholders and the Cyber security authority in safeguarding the country’s cyber space.

According to Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, the private sector is critical in the establishment of an industry forum to deal with the menace of cyber-crime.

“Cyber-crime does not happen only in the public sector so we are making the fight a multi-sectorial one since it’s a security concern. Mind you the members on this joint committee are the regulators and stakeholders who deal with the private sector players so that we can get their support in whatever initiative the authority will undertake to boost the fight against cyber-crime” she said.

She charged the committee to effectively collaborate with the Cyber Security and stakeholders to formulate policies and programmes aimed at making Ghana’s internet safer.

“Your appointment and the inauguration of the JCC is an important milestone in Ghana’s Cyber Security development and we are hopeful that through your work, we will be able to address critical Cyber Security issues affecting the country, including the protection of critical information infrastructure, effective criminal justice response to cybercrimes, awareness creation among public sector officials, public-private sector collaboration and relevant international cooperation to make Ghana a truly cyber secured nation” she noted.

The JCC is established pursuant to section 13 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) to collaborate with the Cyber Security Authority and the sectors or institutions represented on the Committee for the implementation of relevant cybersecurity measures.

The President appointed the members of the Joint Cybersecurity Committee in consultation with the Authority as provided in Section 13(4) of Act 1038.