Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has announced Ghana’s participation in the annual celebration of Africa Safer Internet Day (ASID).
In a press release on February 4, 2024, the CSA highlighted that Ghana is set to mark the annual celebration of the Africa Safer Internet Day (ASID) under the theme ‘Empowering Minds, Protecting Rights: Creating a Safer Digital Africa’ on February 6, 2024.
The CSA also issued a compelling call for collaboration among parents, teachers, civil society organizations, the media, and the private sector to champion the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
As Ghana prepares to lead the ASID celebration, the CSA, in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana, the Ghana Education Service, and other stakeholders, aims to raise awareness, educate communities, and pave the way for a safer digital environment.
Speaking to Radio Univers in a live interview, Senior Manager, of the Computer Response Team of Cyber Security Authority, Mr. Isaac Socrates Mensah, highlighted the main objectives that the CSA aims to achieve through its participation in ASID.
“What we are looking to do is intensify our awareness creation efforts with regards to child online protection and let people also be aware of some of the provisions that we’ve made in the Cybersecurity Act. We are also looking to intensify awareness on that so people can also know some of the rights that they have as parents, as teachers, and even as children.”
“The rights that the law gives them that they can use once they find themselves in any situation online. Again, we are also raising awareness on the cybersecurity trends happening in relation to children; what children are facing when they go online and how they can even navigate their way through it, and what they must do once they even find themselves being victims. We would also provide some tips as to how to navigate the Internet safely.”
He further underscored the need for collaboration from the private sector, technology companies, and other stakeholders and how these entities could contribute to enhancing child online safety, and what specific gaps they can help fill.
“We need the help of all these stakeholders to come together so we get the information out there. Not just about the awareness creation. We are talking about technology institutions as well. They also create some of these apps and work on some of these applications that children use. Some of the apps do not prohibit children from assessing certain [inappropriate] content.”
“So once we engage some of them on these issues in the development of some of these applications, they are going to factor children in some of them… we would also need to investigate some criminal offences against children. We want each and every person, every stakeholder that falls within this space to help protect the children.”
Mr. Mensah outlined plans for regular sensitization programs during the upcoming ASID celebration, emphasizing a focus on senior high schools due to identified threats. He explained that the initiative will engage teachers, parents and guardians in discussions on online safety.
In collaborating with the Ghana Education Service, selected institutions will host desensitization sessions to reach a wide audience through various media platforms about the potential dangers and preventive measures.
Read CSA’s statement below.
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Story by: Nsoh Ezekiel | univers.edu.gh
