The Ministry of Communication, through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), an agency with the mandate to coordinate Ghana’s cybersecurity development, will hold its annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) from 1 to 31 October 2020.

The month-long event will be conducted in a hybrid format, comprising physical engagements (under strict COVID-19 protocols) and live streaming on NCSAMTV, Facebook, YouTube and updated across various social media pages such as Instagram and Twitter, a statement from NCSC stated.

It will involve thought-leadership sessions, workshops and media engagements aimed at intensifying capacity-building and awareness creation efforts on cybercrime and cybersecurity among Ghanaians.

Recognised as the leading event within the cybersecurity space, NCSAM is expected to be used to educate children, the public, businesses and government stakeholders on cyber hygiene best practices.

This year’s event will have weekly high-level events, launch of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month and Child Online Protection Reporting Portal, a forum on the Impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s Digitalisation Agenda, a Cybersecurity Forum with industry players and the launch of the Security Operations Centre of National Information Technology Agency (NITA).

Other lined up activities include panel discussions and media engagements with a specific focus on the four thematic areas of the Safer Digital Ghana Campaign (Children, the public, businesses and government).

The speakers will include Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication; Members of the National Cybersecurity Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council (NCSIAC), Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan, United States Ambassador to Ghana; Mrs Anne-Claire Dufay, Country Representative of UNICEF Ghana; Dr Albert Antwi- Boasiako, National Cybersecurity Advisor; George Nenyi Andah – Deputy Communication Minister, Alexander K.K. Abban – Deputy Communication Minister, Members of the National Cybersecurity Technical Working Group, Representatives from E-Crime Bureau, among others. 

Speaking ahead of the event, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the “COVID-19 pandemic has changed our way of life and this event will focus on how the children, the public, businesses as well as government institutions can ensure utmost protection of their online activities and utilisation of digital platforms”.

The theme for this year’s edition is “Cybersecurity in the Era of COVID-19”, reflecting on the current trends on cybersecurity incidents as a result of the increased use of digital platforms by individuals, businesses and governments for socio-economic activities.

The official hashtag for the event is #NCSAM2020 and #SaferDigitalGhana and will be streamed on all social media platform.