The Communications Ministry through the National Cyber security Centre is organising a three-day retreat for Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications.

The 3-Day retreat scheduled from June 1 to June 3 is to build the capacity of Members of the Select Committee in the area of cyber security and to review the draft Cyber security legislations- Cyber security Bill and Interception Bill and the revised National Cyber security Policy and Strategy.

The Legislations are aimed at establishing a Cyber Security Authority, provide a legal framework to effectively conduct cyber-related activities in the interest of the public and protecting Critical National Information Infrastructures of the country.

The retreat also seeks to review the revised National Cyber security Policy & Strategy, the document which provides policy direction on cyber security in the country to reflect current cyber security and cyber crime trends.

The Centre since its inception has facilitated a number of capacity building and awareness creation activities geared towards obtaining a safer cyber ecosystem in Ghana.

Prominent among these activities is the National Cyber security Awareness Programme (NCSAP) dubbed ‘A Safer Digital Ghana’ campaign which focuses on awareness creation for the four focal areas (Children, Public, Business|Government) aimed at tackling the menace of cyber crime and improving Ghana’s cyber security readiness.

Ghana has ratified two international conventions namely; the Malabo Convention (African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection) and the Budapest Convention (Convention on Cyber crime) in recognition of the need for international cooperation to tackle cyber crime and improve on cyber security from best practices globally.

The Minister for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is expected to make a presentation on the current developments and policy direction on Ghana’s cyber security at the retreat which will be attended by 36 participants made up of Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, officials from the Ministry of Communications and members of Legislative Drafting Division of the Office of the Attorney General’s Department.