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The National Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been launched in Accra with a call on citizens to think through before sharing messages on social media.
The theme “Combating misinformation/disinformation in a digitally resilient democracy – Our collective responsibility,” would help experts engage in public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
It would also empower them to identify and report false information to combat the spread of false information, particularly during election periods.
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who launched the event said her Ministry and Cybersecurity Authority were in talks with digital platform owners to create and put into action effective strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation.
“We are engaging with digital platform owners like Meta (Facebook) to establish mechanisms for quickly responding to reports of misinformation and disinformation, especially during election periods.
She expressed concern about the increase in the creation of fake accounts and the spread of false content on digital platforms.
“By working with the platform owners, the government aims to have a more efficient system in place to identify and address the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which can undermine democratic processes and societal stability,” she said.
She said the period would be used to raise public awareness, “We have set aside one month to educate the public, children, businesses, government agencies, and all arms of government on cybersecurity.”
She urged Ghanaians to be cautious online, particularly when clicking on links or forwarding messages.
“Before you click on any link or forward any document, pause and think, this is especially important for children, as malicious advertisements often pop up even during activities like watching cartoons,” she explained.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful also warned about the rise in WhatsApp and social media hacks. “People are responding to messages they should not and sending one-time passwords (OTPs) to the wrong people.
Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Pepprah, Chief of the Defence Staff, called for increased public awareness and capacity building to tackle cyber threats, especially as Ghana heads towards the December general elections.
He stressed the need for citizens to be able to detect, prevent, and mitigate the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which could threaten peace and stability.
He stated that the GAF is committed to ensuring personnel meet their responsibilities in protecting the nation’s digital space and called on everyone to play their part in maintaining peaceful elections.
He further advised the public, including media houses and journalists, to be professional and careful in their reporting, especially regarding security services.
“We should not create fear and panic but rather promote peace, security, and national cohesion,” he said.
The Defence Chief also urged all GAF personnel to enhance their cybersecurity skills and adopt best practices to combat cyber threats.
He emphasized the importance of collective action in detecting, preventing, and reducing the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the elections.
EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, said the EU would continue to champion any agenda that would help preserve peace and security in the country
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
