The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with e-Crime Bureau, a leading cyber security agency, to deepen knowledge on, and develop capacity in the area of cyber security.
The collaboration seeks to develop cyber security programmes and conduct research in the areas of cyber security, cyber intelligence and forensics and cyber incident responses, among others. Two certificates courses – Certificate Programme in Cyber Security and Certificate Programme in Cyber Intelligence & Forensics – have been developed to build the capacity of both public and private sector institutions.
The courses are expected to benefit both policy makers, industry practitioners and law enforcement/security professionals.
KAIPTC has for the past five years integrated cyber security modules into its curricula for post-graduate academic programmes. These modules have been facilitated by experts from the e-Crime Bureau. Thus, the MoU between both institutions further consolidates a fruitful partnership nurtured over the years.
Due to the increasing use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), cyber threats have been identified among the most pressing challenges to the security of individuals, institutions and the state at large. The increasing use of computing technology all over the world has led to a new generation of criminal activities globally. Various research and analysis conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and indeed the Centre suggests cybercrime is gradually impacting on other transnational crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and drug trafficking among others. Cybercrime has therefore become not just an individual or business issues, but a national security issue for countries.
Commenting on the collaboration during the signing of the MoU, the Commandant of the Centre Air Vice Marshal Griffiths Santrofi Evans highlighted the need for cyber security programmes at the Centre due to heightened security threats targeting the West African sub-region, particularly. On his part, Mr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the Principal Consultant at e-Crime Bureau, noted that the collaboration between the Bureau and the Centre is a clear manifestation of both institutions commitment towards implementing Ghana’s National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy (NCSPS) which was approved by cabinet in November 2016.
Participants from Ghana and the entire West Africa are expected to benefit from these courses, with the Certificate programme in Cyber Security and Certificate programme in Cyber Intelligence & Forensics scheduled to be held in August and December 2017 respectively.
Instructively, the Ghana Ministry of Defence (MoD) established the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in 1998 and commissioned it in 2004.
The purpose was to build upon and share Ghana’s five decades of internationally acclaimed experience and competence in peace operations with other states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region and the rest of Africa. This was in recognition of the need for training military, police and civilian men and women to meet the changing demands of multidimensional peace operations. The Centre is one of the three (3) Peacekeeping Training Centres of Excellence mandated by the ECOWAS to offer training in peacekeeping and peace support operations (PSO) in Africa.
The Centre delivers training courses in in three thematic areas; Peace Support Operations, Conflict Management and Peace and Security Studies and also runs Masters and PhD programmes in same. The KAIPTC has a world-class research department that undertakes research in the thematic areas in Peace and Security. Located in Accra, Ghana, the KAIPTC is an internationally-recognized institution and has till date trained and tutored over 14,000 participants and students since its inception.
While e-Crime Bureau is a pioneer organization specializing in cyber security to operate in West Africa. The organization is led by Mr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, a cyber security expert with the Interpol Global Cybercrime Expert Group (IGCEG).
The Bureau has led a number of capacity building programmes including cybercrime investigations capacity building for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, support for the development of Ghana’s National Cyber Security Policy & Strategy (NCSPS), cybercrime project and workshop for the Council of Europe, the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) and African Center for Cyberlaw & Cybercrime Prevention (ACCP), consulting services on cybercrime capacity building for the United Nation Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) among others.
The Bureau supports both public and private sector organizations on cyber security services, digital forensics, training & research and cyber security technology support among others.
African Eye Report
