Ghana has barred Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs), and Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs) without a license or accreditation from operating in the country.
Details
The ban took effect January 1 2024, after a deadline was set on December 31, 2023, deadline issued by the Cybersecurity Authority.
What They’re Saying
“The CSA will fully enforce the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) regarding its mandate to regulate CSPs, CPs and CEs. Accordingly, CSPs, CEs and CPs who offer cybersecurity services without a licence or accreditation granted by the Authority, do so in contravention of Act 1038 and will face the full rigors of the Law including criminal prosecutions and administrative penalties where applicable,” the Authority said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Institutions and individuals are consequently advised to engage only licensed CSPs and accredited CEs and CPs,” it added.
Between The Lines
However, the Director-General, CSA, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako who spoke at an event at aNational Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) in Accra last year, called for the extension of the deadline to encourage more participation, given the impressive number of applications received.
By The Numbers
- As of October 2023, the Authority has received 907 licensing and accreditation requests since the process began.
- 134 institutions have registered to apply for licences as cybersecurity service providers, 41 are seeking accreditation as cybersecurity establishments, and 732 applying to be accredited as cybersecurity professionals.
Background
The CSA began its license and accreditation process on 1 March 2023 as part of its mandate to introduce sanity into the cybersecurity sector, setting 30 September 2023 as the deadline for cybersecurity service providers, cybersecurity establishments, and cybersecurity professionals to obtain the necessary licenses and accreditations.
Source: Business and Financial Times
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