Ghana chosen to advise Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
Ghana has been chosen to be a member of the independent committee advising the GIFCT
Ghana has been appointed a member of the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT).
The nomination has been prompted by Ghana’s political commitment and human rights-centred approach to developing cybersecurity as well as its active engagement at the regional and international level to promote responsible use of the internet.
Some of the countries serving on the IAC alongside Ghana are Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The current head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, will represent Ghana on the committee.
The NCSC was established in 2018 under the Ministry of Communications to co-ordinate the cybersecurity response in government and the private sector.
Sub-regional leader
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Communications, under the leadership of Honourable Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the sector minister, has significantly improved Ghana’s international co-operation efforts in the fight against cybercrime by working through the NCSC.
In December 2018 Ghana formally acceded to the Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention, and ratified the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, known as the Malabo Convention, becoming the fifth country on the continent to ratify the treaty.
In 2019 Ghana chaired the Freedom Online Coalition, an intergovernmental body that promotes digital rights. During this period, the Government of Ghana collaborated with the German government to draft a digital inclusion statement, which has been adopted by all FOC members.
The Ministry of Communications has also been actively involved in the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), whose activities are aimed at improving the international response to cybercrime.
In view of these developments, and Ghana’s work to improve national cybersecurity by reviewing the legal and regulatory framework, public education/sensitisation, establishing a network of computer emergency response teams in various sectors, capacity-building for all actors in this ecosystem as well as other measures, the ECOWAS Commission has requested that Ghana lead cybersecurity efforts in the sub-region.
The selection of Ghana to become a member of the Independent Advisory Committee of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism is further recognition of our leadership role in improving cybersecurity in the world.
Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
The GIFCT was established in July 2017 by a group of companies dedicated to disrupting terrorist abuse and misuse of member platforms. The original forum was led by a rotating chair drawn from the four founding companies — Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube.
The GIFCT facilitates knowledge-sharing, technical collaboration and sponsored research towards preventing the use of digital platforms, including social media for terrorism-related activities such as the March 2019 Christchurch attack, which killed about 51 people and left many injured.
The IAC is part of the GIFCT and will serve as a consultative body dedicated to maximising the GIFCT’s effectiveness and establishing engagements among government, civil society and industry.
The IAC is composed of government representatives, technical experts, civil society leaders, advocacy groups, human rights specialists and researchers.
IAC members are selected by GIFCT’s operating board and composed of its four founding member companies.
