The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has warned that individuals operating as cybersecurity professionals without proper accreditation are in breach of the law and risk penalties under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th IT Audit, Cybersecurity & Risk Conference in Kumasi, the acting Director-General of the CSA, Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, said the CSA was actively enforcing its licensing and accreditation framework.
The conference, organised by the ISACA Accra Chapter, brought together cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders.
Mr. Agbeti noted that only licensed service providers and accredited professionals were permitted to operate in Ghana’s cybersecurity space adding “we are committed to monitoring and ensuring full compliance with the law to protect critical information infrastructure and the interests of consumers.”
Touching on AI and its associated risks, he stated that the rapid development of AI presented opportunities and risks and cited a PwC Global Artificial Intelligence Study, which projected AI to add up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, he cautioned that the gains could only be sustained if AI systems were built on strong ethical foundations and digital trust.
On data protection, Mr. Agbeti referred to the 2023 Risk Based Security Report, which recorded over four billion data records breached globally and he stressed the need for enhanced cybersecurity vigilance and proactive regulation to safeguard Ghana’s digital ecosystem.
The acting Director-General announced that CSA would operationalise the Ghana Cybersecurity Industry Forum later this year to serve as a platform for collaboration on policy development, industry standards, and national cybersecurity priorities.
The President of ISACA Accra Chapter, Mr Solomon Ackom, called for a collaborative approach to shape the cybersecurity landscape in the country for the needed impact.
