National Cyber Security Awareness Month launched with focus on combating misinformation, disinformation

The National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) has been launched with a focus on combating misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 General Election.

This year’s cyber security awareness month is themed “Combating Misinformation and Disinformation in a Digitally Resilient Democracy: Our Collective Responsibility".

The media launch took place at the Ministry of Information in Accra on Sunday, September 1.

The campaign is scheduled to run throughout October and would bring together government officials, private sector players, cybersecurity professionals, and civil society organizations to promote cybersecurity awareness and encourage responsible use of digital tools.

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who launched the campaign emphasised that Ghana has witnessed a significant transformation in how citizens live, work, and interact due to the rapid advancement of digital technologies.

She mentioned that the developments have also introduced new risks, including cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

"The point of digitalization is cybersecurity—you can't have one without the other. While we celebrate the introduction of new technologies like artificial intelligence for their potential to positively transform our lives, we must also acknowledge the significant challenges they bring”, Hon. Owusu-Ekuful stated.

The Minister added that Ghana's progress in mobile connectivity was a key pillar of the digital transformation journey highlighting that the rolling out high-speed data networks nationwide, including 4G and 5G, was to ensure that all citizens have access to the digital initiatives that are rapidly unfolding.

She encouraged all to work together to preserve the peace and stability of our country, ensuring that Ghana remains a digitally resilient democracy.

"As we prepare for upcoming elections, it is crucial that we use digital platforms to campaign peacefully and factually, rather than to spread fear and heighten tensions unnecessarily," the Minister appealed.

On his part, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Albert Antwi-Boasiako stressed the need to be conscious of the risks of using social media, especially ahead of the December 7 polls.

He said all stakeholders must take an interest and join heads to address the challenges of using social media, acknowledging that there is a lot of work to be done.

“I’m pleading with you the media, we need to take the issue of misinformation seriously," Albert Antwi-Boasiako said.