Ghana on Tuesday took a crucial step in its cybersecurity landscape with the official launch of the Industry Forum and inauguration of Independent Assessors.

The milestone is in line with the Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038).

Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chairman of the Facilitating Committee on the Establishment of the Industry Forum, and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana, described the establishment of the Industry Forum as a “pivotal step in our cybersecurity strategy,” citing Section 81 of the Cybersecurity Act 2020, which mandates the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to establish such a forum.

The Forum is intended to bring together industry stakeholders periodically to discuss common interests in cybersecurity, a move that resonates with the words of Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor, the "Doyen of the Internet in Africa": “In Africa, the strength of our cybersecurity lies in our unity and collaborative efforts; together, we can build a resilient digital continent.”

The CSA held preliminary consultations to outline the steps and develop a roadmap for launching the Forum, and based on these discussions, a nine-member facilitating committee was formed to plan the official launch as part of the annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) celebrations.

Dr. Ashigbey expressed gratitude to Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the CSA Board, and the facilitating committee for their contributions.

The nine-member committee, composed of representatives from various industry organisations, worked diligently to deliver two critical documents: the Constitution of the Industry Forum and the Industry Code, both of which were completed ahead of schedule.

Dr. Ashigbey acknowledged the efforts of Madam Adelaide Benneh Prempeh and Mr. John Awuah, who led the teams responsible for these documents.

The Industry Forum's Constitution establishes the forum as a platform to facilitate collaboration, share knowledge, and promote best practices in cybersecurity across various sectors.

It aims to enhance cybersecurity development in Ghana by fostering a community of professionals who can address trends, threats, and best practices in the industry.

The Constitution outlines six specific objectives, which include promoting the overall security posture of member organisations.

The Industry Code, on the other hand, sets clear ethical and professional standards for all stakeholders in Ghana’s cybersecurity ecosystem. It aims to promote compliance with Act 1038 and related regulations, provide a voluntary framework for the conduct of cybersecurity services, and protect government, businesses, and critical information infrastructure (CII) from cyberattacks.

Dr. Ashigbey emphasised that these documents are "living documents" that will be refined and improved over time through workshops and continued engagement with the cybersecurity ecosystem.

He also highlighted the Forum’s role in fulfilling Section 5.1(c) of Act 1038, which requires the Industry Forum to nominate three representatives to serve on the CSA Board.

The Forum’s establishment, according to Dr. Ashigbey, is a step towards greater regulatory independence for the CSA, which will benefit the entire nation by fostering collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility.

He expressed appreciation to the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation and the Director-General of the CSA for their visionary support in recognising the Forum’s importance and urged them to continue providing resources for its successful operation.

Dr. Ashigbey called on industry members to actively participate in the Forum, stressing that their engagement is essential to deepening cybersecurity practices across Ghana.

He quoted Prof. Adnan Aziz, a prominent cybersecurity specialist, to have said that “Cybersecurity is not just a technical challenge; it is a social and economic imperative that requires multi-stakeholder engagement.”

He concluded reminded all of the ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey) and encouraged all citizens to contribute to preserving the environment, saying, “We all have a role to play to save ourselves from extinction.”