The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has issued a directive to some 188 institutions in the country ranging from the financial sector to the mining sector to implement procedures that will guide the implementation of the new cybersecurity act which will help fight cyber- attacks.

The move is to ensure that these critical information infrastructure firms do not become vulnerable to the rising cyber threat due to the role they play in the economy.

Disclosing this at the official launch of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month for this year, Madam Owusu-Ekuful said “even though Ghana remains one of the few countries on the African continent to carry out the art of formalising the protection of our CIIs, we’re acting now to protect our investments in our digitalization eco system to ensure we reap the full digital dividends associated with our digital transformation”

She also used the event to unveil the National Cybersecurity Authority and its office in Accra.

The opening of the National Cybersecurity Authority falls in line with the Cybersecurity Act, Act 2020 which was passed in the last parliament.

According to the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, the directive to these institutions is for them to engage the authority to identify specific gaps that can be managed in their day to day digital usage.

First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Maxwell Opoku Afari at the same event disclosed that the Central Bank is engaging all banks in the country to ensure that its cyber security guidelines are implemented to the later.

Meanwhile, Acting Director General of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Albert Antwi-Boasiako explained to Joy Business that the authority is working with the firms to ensure that all procedures are put in place to avoid any attacks.

The Cybersecurity Authority will be rolling out series of events to market the Cybersecurity awareness Month which is celebrated every October.

This year’s celebration is under the theme “Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, it’s implications and the role of stakeholders”.