Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, says it is essential to leverage industry forums to cultivate a culture of cybersecurity towards a secured and resilient digital Ghana. She said the industry forum facilitated collaboration among stakeholders, including government, private sector, and civil society, fostering a united front against cyber threats. The Minister added that it provided a platform for sharing best practices, strategies, and insights on cybersecurity, helping organisations to enhance their defenses. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful was speaking at the official launch of the Cybersecurity Industry Forum, which is?in accordance with Section 81(1) of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), and the inauguration of the first cohort of the 18 Independent Assessors in Accra. The Independent Assessors,?a group of top-tier accredited cybersecurity professionals?will among other things be responsible for supporting the Cyber Security Authority (CSA)?to develop Ghana's cybersec urity ecosystem within a collaborative regulatory framework. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said?Ghana had?made significant strides in cybersecurity development since 2017 when the President mandated the Ministry to oversee Ghana's cybersecurity development. She said the Government had implemented key interventions in response to the constantly evolving threat landscape associated with?the?adoption of digital platforms and services as the driver for economic development. 'Notable among them are the launch of the Safer Digital Ghana?Campaign, the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, the ratification of?the Budapest and Malabo Conventions, the establishment of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), among others,' she added. She said from a score of 32.6?per cent?in 2017, the country scored 99.27?per cent?in the latest edition of the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) last month. The Minister said?despite the gains made in addressing cybersecurity issues in the country, the Government acknowledged?that there?was still much work?to be done. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful?encouraged?all and sundry to?bring on board?their?vast experiences, expertise and wealth of knowledge to shape the development of?the?cybersecurity ecosystem?in Ghana. Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the Director-General, CSA, said the cybersecurity industry had become a cornerstone of digital innovation, growing in importance as the world became more interconnected. He said with cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, there was the need to have a collective responsibility as a nation to safeguard digital assets and infrastructure. Dr Antwi-Boasiako said the Forum would support Ghana's cybersecurity development and serve as the starting point of a long-term partnership that would drive policy, standards, innovations, and technological advancements. The Director-General said through this Forum, the industry could nominate three people to represent its interests on the Authority's governing body and the inclusive approach was a clear signal of their commitment to transparency, participation, and collaboration. 'It is only by working together that we can achieve our common goal of fostering a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem,' he stressed. Dr Antwi-Boasiako said the Authority had, to date, registered 266 CSPs, 73 CEs, and 1,677 CPs. It is the CSA's hope that all of us will commit to building and improving our nation's digital resilience. He said the involvement of the Independent Assessors in the regulatory process advanced the CSA's mission in enhancing the regulatory landscape through providing advice and recommendations on specific projects and offering independent, impartial evaluations. The Director-General said the Forum's ability to create industry codes as part of its mandate was a powerful tool that could guide industry practices, promote self-regulation, and enhance national cybersecurity posture. 'Proactively developing and implementing these codes will guarantee that the industry operates at the highest ethica l and professional standards, while also fostering trust with the public and other stakeholders,' he added. Source: Ghana News Agency