NCA Organises Workshop on Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+)
NCA Organises Workshop on Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+)
The National Communications Authority (NCA) is hosting a two-day workshop on the Global Action on Cyber Crime Extended (GLACY+) on the 19th and 20th of January 2017 at the NCA Tower in Accra. The workshop which serves as a platform for the NCA, the Council on Europe and other stakeholders to discuss the contents of the National Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework, brings together experts from the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Communications, National Communications Authority, the Judicial Service, Attorney General’s Department, National Security, and Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Director General of the NCA, Mr. William Tevie, who is also the National Coordinator of the project during his welcome address said that as we become more reliant on the Internet for communication, information and business relations, it has become necessary that measures be put in place to combat theft of information, copyright infringement, dissemination of contraband and fraud online.
He recalled that the regulatory framework of reducing the rate of cybercrime resulted in an informal alliance amongst the NCA, the judiciary and the security agencies. He went on to say that while these collaborations were important, some of the crimes were committed across borders, necessitating the need for Ghana to be part of the Budapest Convention.
Mr. Tevie emphasised the need for public education and awareness creation on cybercrime. He ended his address with a pledge to cooperate with the relevant institutions and support the Council of Europe in the implementation of the project in Ghana.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Manuel de Almeida, Project Manager of the GLACY+ said that even though Ghana was not included in the original GLACY project, ratification to the Budapest Convention and the findings from the national situation reports calls for:
- Promotion of consistent cybercrime and cybersecurity policies and strategies.
- Strengthening Police and Criminal Justice capabilities in dealing with cybercrime.
- Enhance International Cooperation.
Addressing the participants, Maria –Luisa Troncoso, Head of Governance at the European Union Mission in Ghana said that the National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) as a key policy feature will provide a framework to tackle risks which have the potential to undermine the achievement of economic and social benefits of cyberspace. She called for an increased engagement with the private sector and academia to foster the translation of policy into practice. She mentioned that Council of Europe had already collaborated with the law enforcement and security agencies in some projects including AIRCOP, SEACOP, CRIMGO, CRIMJUST and WAPIS.
ABOUT THE GLACY+
GLACY (Global Action on Cybercrime) is a joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe aimed at supporting countries worldwide in the implementation of the Budapest Convention. The specific objective of GLACY is: “to enable criminal justice authorities to engage in international cooperation on cybercrime and electronic evidence on the basis of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.”
Results are expected in the following areas:
- Engagement of decision-makers
- Harmonisation of legislation
- Judicial training
- Law enforcement capacities
- International cooperation
- Information sharing
- Assessment of progress
The project is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. GLACY+ is intended to extend the experience of the GLACY project, which supports seven priority countries in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. These countries may serve as hubs to share their experience within their respective regions. Moreover, countries of Latin America and the Caribbean may now also benefit from project support.
Issued by the National Communications Authority,
NCA Tower,
No. 6 Airport City, Accra.
Tel: (0)30 – 2776621/2771701 or 050-145-1522/3.
E-mail: info@localhost
Date – Thursday, 19th January, 2017
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