Over 800 delegates from over 100 countries across the globe are expected to participate in the first-ever Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) from November 29th to 30th at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the Director-General, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako has announced.
The two-day event themed “Cyber Resilience for Development” is organized collaboratively with the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, Cyber Security Authority, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), the Cyber Peace Institute, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum.
Addressing the media during the Minister’s Press Briefing at the Ministry of Information in Accra today, the Director-General of Cyber Security Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako stated that the GC3B Conference is aimed to bring together a diverse group of high-level decision-makers and practitioners from Governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and academia.
He stated that cyber resilience and capacity building plays a key role in enabling and supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development but also aims to improve the awareness and need for decision makers to leverage and create cyber capacity building programmes and opportunities.
“Expectations for the event include the development of a global cyber capacity-building agenda, improved coordination mechanisms, and increased resources for cyber resilience”, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako said.
He mentioned that the upcoming conference is a golden opportunity for Ghana to position itself as a leader in cybersecurity development in Africa and urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the event to ensure an effective outcome.
Dr. Antwi-Boasiako added that the event is expected to foster networking opportunities, catalyze commitments on cyber capacity building, and elevate Ghana’s visibility and involvement in global cybersecurity issues. “The influx of delegates is also anticipated to bring economic value to the country’s tourism sector”, he revealed.
The Director-General of Cyber Security Authority reiterated that the media is recognized as a vital partner in this endeavor and encouraged the media to continuously educate the public about the importance of cybersecurity.
The President of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) Foundation, Mr. Christopher Painter said that as the world eagerly anticipates the GC3B Conference, Ghana stands poised to lead discussions and collaborations in the critical realm of cybersecurity, contributing to global efforts for a more secure digital future.
Present at the event are the President of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Mr. Chris Painter, Members of the Cyber Security Authority Governing Board; Members of the Joint Cybersecurity Committee the President of Ghana Journalist Association Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Sulemana Braimah; the President, ISACA, Accra Chapter, Mr. Daniel Gyampo and Executive Director, Institute of ICT Professionals, Ghana Mr. David Gowu,
Background: Ghana’s Rise in Cybersecurity Leadership
Ghana’s journey towards becoming a cybersecurity champion has been marked by significant achievements. The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) facilitated Ghana’s entry as the 88th member of the GFCE, actively participating in various committees and groups, including the
Africa Cyber Experts Community. This engagement paved the way for Ghana to secure the hosting rights for GC3B.
Ghana’s success in organizing major global events in 2022, including the G7-ECOWAS meeting, ACE Community Kick-off meeting, and the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Conference, contributed to the nation’s selection. The country’s impressive International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranking, reaching 86.69 percent in 2020, further solidified its reputation as a cybersecurity stronghold in the Sub-Saharan Region.
Preliminary Assessment and Commitment to Cybersecurity
The CSA’s commitment to cybersecurity development was underlined during an assessment interview in February 2023 with representatives from the AU-GFCE. Ghana’s successful hosting of previous cybersecurity-related events and its active participation in international cybersecurity initiatives, including the United Nations Open Ended Working Group (UNOEWG), played a crucial role in securing the bid.