Cybersecurity in Ghana: Local solutions to global threats!

Cybersecurity in Ghana: Local solutions to global threats!

In today's digital world, cybersecurity is a hot topic that is becoming increasingly important. People face special challenges, especially in developing countries such as Ghana. In a comprehensive study, the Max Planck Institute showed that the security programs currently used are often not only ineffective, but even harmful to rural communities. Many of these traditional cybersecurity approaches do not take into account the specific security duly of the residents and leave them out of defenseless. In rural regions of Ghana, people have found creative ways to deal with the limited infrastructure and adapt to access to electricity and mobile phone networks. But these solutions also come with risks.

worldwide are about 2.6 billion people offline, and around 77 % of the population have access to electricity in Ghana. Therefore, innovative solutions are required to help people in rural areas. They often trust friends and neighbors to transport their devices into charging stations, which are often several kilometers away. The transport costs fluctuate between 10 and 30 Ghanaian cedis, while the loading of the devices only costs 1 to 5 cedis. However, these devices can stay at the charging stations for two to three days, which can lead to unauthorized access to personal information and theft.

The cybersecurity trip in Ghana

The digital Transformation of Ghana not only brings opportunities, but also serious risks. Attacks such as phishing and ransomware increase, while awareness of digital threats within the population is often low. Due to the digital gap, people in rural areas in particular have less access to information and training. This gap is particularly pronounced compared to urban centers such as Accra and Kumasi, where access to fast internet and digital education is much better. The low digital literature means that many get into the catches of cyber criminals that use inexperienced users to steal their data.

One of the greatest challenges for Ghana is the lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals. According to the World Bank, there are around 4 million vacancies worldwide in this area and demand is growing. The Ghanas government has already started to invest in cybersecurity training and training programs at universities and technical institutions. This training is supported by the Cyber ​​Security Authority (CSA), which ensures that national security standards are observed. Public reconnaissance campaigns should also increase awareness of cybersecurity and inform the population about proven practices.

bridge strokes between the worlds

The DJ industrial expert describes how important it is that both the public and the private sector work together to strengthen national cybersecurity efforts. This requires continuous investments, not only in training, but also in research and development to keep up with the constantly changing threats. It is also crucial to develop international partnerships and learn from the experiences of other countries.

An integrative approach is necessary to close the existing clings. Women in many countries provide less than 25 % of cybersecurity workers, which shows that targeted policies are necessary to promote women and young people into this industry. For example, the Cybergirls Fellowship reports that women between the ages of 18 and 28 in seven African countries report on increases in income of up to 400 % for graduates. Such programs are crucial to create highly qualified jobs and to improve the socio -economic situation in developing countries.

For more information and detailed analyzes on these topics, you can do the articles on ictworks , iipgh and World Bank Blog blogs Read.