The Founder of e-Crime Bureau, a leading cyber security and digital forensics firm in Ghana, Albert Antwi-Boasiako received an honorary award at the maiden Ghana e-Commerce Awards 2018.

The award, according to the organisers, is in recognition of his “Outstanding Contribution to Fighting Cyber Fraud” through his work in Ghana and the West Africa Region for the past eight years. 

The event organised by OML Africa, an international Human Resource Management and Organisational Development consulting firm in Ghana, came off at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel on Friday, November 30, 2018. The dinner awards programme was attended by over 150 e-commerce experts, website developers and owners, representatives from the fintechs, techpreneurs, policy makers and renowned industry players within the e-commerce industry.

The focus of the awards programme was to recognise, reward and celebrate individuals and organisations who have demonstrated dedication, innovation and excellence in Ghana’s online business industry. 

The award was received on  his behalf by Dr. Suzanne Nti, a Board Member of e-Crime Bureau together with a team from e-Crime Bureau who were instrumental in supporting Mr. Antwi-Boasiako in his pioneering efforts aimed at fighting cyber fraud.

Mr. Antwi-Boasiako in a statement after receiving the award, indicated that “the real work in our nation’s cybersecurity development has just begun especially as the government seeks to scale up Ghana’s cybersecurity readiness.

“I am grateful to the e-Crime Bureau team who indeed constitute the foundation of our pioneering work in Ghana as well as other stakeholders from the private sector as well as my current colleagues at the National Cyber Security Centre for the continuing support.

“I wish to take this opportunity to call on all stakeholders to support the work of the Ministry of Communications, the National Cyber Security Technical Working Group (NCSTWG) and the National Cyber Security Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council (NCSIAC) in improving our national response to cybercrimes,” he urged.

Contributions

Mr Antwi-Boasiako’s pioneering role in the field include the setting up of the first ever cyber security and digital forensics lab in West Africa which has continuously supported law enforcement and private sector-related cyber security and cyber forensics needs.

Other pioneering engagements of Albert, through e-Crime Bureau include the development of the first ever home-grown capacity building initiative for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through the e-Crime Project through which a number of CID officers were trained in cybercrime investigations. 

In addition to the above, Albert led a team at e-Crime Bureau on a number of capacity building and awareness creation efforts especially in the corporate sector leading to awareness of cyber risks affecting the E-commerce sector.

Albert’s pioneering work in fighting cybercrime include engagement with the UNODC for law enforcement cybercrime capacity building, engagement with Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) on countering electronic counterfeiting in West Africa among many others.