MTN takes cybersecurity education to schools

Telecommunication giant, MTN Ghana has partnered the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to create awareness on cyber security and its related issues among the youth in the country.

The awareness creation, which began at the Labone Senior High School, was to mark National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) to help reduce cybercrimes.

As part of the month-long awareness programme, CSA is to collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to undertake a nationwide tour to sensitise people to cyber security-related matters, including regulations, through workshops and seminars.

The authority will also engage and partner stakeholders to implement key cyber security regulations and also build the capacity of industry players.

The initiative forms part of a five-year National Cyber Security Awareness Programme of the government dubbed: “A safer digital Ghana”.

Social responsibility

Addressing participants at the forum in Accra on Monday, October 10, the Senior Manager of Enterprise Information Security and Governance at MTN Ghana, Jacqueline Hanson-Kotei, said the decision to partner the authority was part of MTN’s social responsibility to ensure that cyber security issues were brought to the barest minimum in the country.

“It is also part of MTN’s commitment to support the CSA to reduce cybercrime.

We are in a digital age now and most of our lives are spent on the internet, so I think it is important to raise awareness on cybersecurity issues to make sure that those living their lives online are safe,” she said.

Foresight

An Assistant Manager at the CSA, Abigail Kakai, commended the management of MTN Ghana for the foresight to help promote the NCSAM.

She said there was the need for students to reach out and report all cybercrime cases to the authorities.

“The NCSAM is an annual event by authority to intensify capacity building and awareness creation efforts on cybercrime,” he said.

Appreciation

The Assistant Head Teacher of the Labone Senior High School, Adelaide Boye, expressed appreciation to MTN and the authority for the engagement.