Report on the Ghana IGF 2015

_______________________________
Report on the Ghana IGF 2015
___________________________________________
By
Ghana IGF Secretariat
c/o CERT-GH Coordination Centre
6th Floor, Ghana Multimedia Centre
High Street, Accra
Ghana
secretariat@ghanaigf.org
November 2015
Contents
Background .............................................................................................................................. 4
Basis for the organizing the Ghana IGF ...................................................... 4
Funding for Event................................................................................................................. 4
Organizational Structure for organizing event.................................... 5
Event Program & Organization............................................................................. 6
Program .................................................................................................................................... 6
Organization and participation ..................................................................... 6
Press Coverage................................................................................................................. 6
Challenges & Way Forward .................................................................................... 6
APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. 7
Appendix A- List of Steering and Planning Committees &
Secretariat Volunteers............................................................................................... 8
Appendix B- Program for Event .................................................................... 10
Appendix C – Financial Statement........................................................... 14
Appendix D – newspaper rapportage ................................................. 15
Appendix E – Photo gallery of the Event ............................................ 17
APPENDIX F - List of Participants at Ghana IGF 2015 ............. 18
Appendix G – Report on Proceedings at Ghana IGF 2016
.......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Declaration
The Ghana National IGF fully supports and implements the established procedures
and criteria of the global IGF to be an open, inclusive and non-commercial event that
applies a multistakeholder model during the preparations and the organization of the
event.
Background
The 2015 Ghana IGF had been in planning since March 2015 by the Internet Society
Ghana Chapter and the Ministry of Communications through the National Information
Technology Agency (NITA). However, during the First STC-CCICT Ministerial meeting in
Addis Ababa in September 2015, the leader of the Ghana delegation, Hon. Ato
Sarpong, Deputy Minister of Communication, Ghana, met with the Internet Society’s
Vice President on Global Policy, Sally Wentworth and the Africa Bureau Chief, Dr.
Bekele on a bi-lateral to discuss Ghana’s involvement in the Global Internet
Governance Process. Hon. Ato Sarpong affirmed that Ghana was on course to hold
its IGF before the global IGF and would be happy for any support Internet Society
could provide to Ghana. He tasked the former ISOC Ghana president and member
of Ghana’s delegation to liaise with the Internet Society to organize the Ghana IGF
event.
Basis for the organizing the Ghana IGF
In 2014, the Internet Society organized a public forum on Ghana’s multi-stakeholder
model and Internet Governance Forum. During this event, ISOC unveiled its proposal
for institutionalizing the Ghana IGF and making it a permanent feature in Ghana. It is
on the basis of this model that the organizational structure was put in place.
Funding for Event
At the indication of the General Secretary of ISOC Ghana Chapter who
attended the ISOC Africa Peering Event, a request for funding was made
about three weeks to the event to the IGF Support Association based in South
Africa for the sum of USD2, 000. This fund was received by ISOC Ghana before
the planning activities began. A request of USD 3,500 for a small grant facility
was made to Internet Society three days to the event and this was approved
and disbursed. A top-up funding request was also made to the National
Communications Authority, Ghana, to bridge the funding gap and this also
received a favourable response. We are very grateful to all our sponsors for
making the event possible. A detailed financial statement for the event is
attached as appendix to this report.
Organizational Structure for organizing event
To organize the event, an adhoc set of bodies were formed. This included the
following:
•
Steering Committee
The highest body of multi-stakeholders to IGF to approve program and any other
things such as budget for the organization of the IGF. It was chaired by the
Convener (Private Sector) and co-chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry of
Communications
•
A
Planning Committee
planning
committee
that
would
oversee
the
organization of the IGF. It was comprised 10 members
and had National Communications authority and
Google Ghana co-chairing
• Secretariat
An Interim Secretariat comprising, Ag. IGF Coordinator (NITA) and Assistant
Coordinator (ISOC) was set up to implement the IGF program.
A list of all members of the committees and secretariat is attached to this
document as appendix A.
Event Program & Organization
Program
The planning started with an event program that was drafted in March 2015 by NITA.
The secretariat discussed the program with the convener and the updated program
was put before the planning committee for discussion. An updated draft was then
put before the Steering Committee for approval before implementation started in
earnest with only two weeks to the event. A final copy of the program is attached as
appendix.
Organization and participation
A total of 128 participants registered online to participate in the event. The secretariat
sent out about 40 invitation letters to CEO, Chief Directors at Ministries and several
important persons within the Internet Ecosystem.
All letters to speakers were also dispatch by secretariat and follow –ups made. There
was about 85% speaker turn-out and about 198 participants in all attended the
Ghana IGF. There was also a live streaming of the event and very sizeable number of
online participants followed the event. The video of the event can be found at
http://ghanaigf.org/videos/.
These participants asked questions and
contributed to the discussions. Attached to this document is the list of participants who
attended the event.
Press Coverage
The event received an appreciable amount of publicity with over eleven major press
houses from radio, print and TV covering the event. Attached as appendix is a list of
some of the online stories reported.
Challenges & Way Forward
From every perspective, the Ghana IGF 2015 was a great success. The rather short
time to pull off the event resulted in an 85% speaker turn out although the publishing
of the event in the largest circulating newspaper and other advertising channel
contributed to a very good turnout. Moving forward, with the interim structures in
place, preparation for the next Ghana IGF will begin in good time, so all issues will be
dealt with into more detail. The secretariat will work towards adopting a working
document and opening of an IGF account to facilitate easy organization.
APPENDICES
Appendix A- List of Steering and Planning Committees & Secretariat
Volunteers
Ghana National IGF
Governance Structure & Interim Membership
Steering Committee membership:
Name
Institution
Role
Sector
Prof Nii Quaynor
GDC Limited
Convener/Chair
Private
Mr. Issah Yahaya
Mr. Ernest Brown
Ms Dorothy Gordon
Mr. William Tevie
Ministry of Communications
GISPA
AITI-KACE
National Communications
Authority
Co-Chair
Member
Member
Member –
Government
Private
Academia
Government
Roles:
•
•
•
•
Oversight of Ghana IG Forum activities
Highest decision making body for GIGF
Responsible for Executive buy-in and support for IGF projects
Responsible for providing leads to sustain GIGF
Planning Committee Membership
Representative
Name of Institution
Role
Sector
Kenneth AduAmanfoh
Eric Kumah-Baku
NCA
Chair
Government
NITA
Member
Government
Sarata Omane
AITI-KACE
Member
Academia
Dora Mawutor
MFWA
NGO
Estelle Akofio-Sowah
Google
Scribe/
Secretary
Member
Vera AKumiah
ISOC
Member
NGO
Vanessa Issah
Ghana Domain Name
Registry
Linux Group
Member
NGO
Member
Technical
Community
Ghana Dot Com
Member
Private
Wisdom Donkoh
Vitus Aborogu
Private
Roles:
Plan annual IGF and mini IGF events around the year
Implement events with support of Ghana IGF secretariat
Support Secretariat in public awareness creation of Ghana IGF
Operations:
-
Convene planning meeting to discuss:
o
Draft Program by Secretariat
o
Budget
o
Speakers
o
Actions for IGF
Interim National IGF Secretariat
Name
Institution
Role
Sector
Eric Akumiah,
CERT-GH
AG. Coordinator
Goverment
Marcus Adomey,
ISOC GH
NGO
Patricia Adafienu
CERT-GH
Ag. Deputy
Coordinator,
Admin Assistant
Government
Roles
Support Steering and planning committee activities with secretarial services
Facilitate annual IGF fora
Manage all correspondence
Manage mailing list and website
PR and awareness creation
o Publicity
o Social media
o PR events management
o Mailing lists
Appendix B- Program for Event
Appendix C – Financial Statement
Ghana IGF
INCOME
STATEMENT
Exchange Rate
USD1: GHS3.8
USD
GHS
35,900.00
Income
NCA
GHS
15,000.00
IGFSA
2000 7,600.00
Internet Society
3500 13,300.00
Expenditure
32,050.60
Marketing
5,025.00
Media relations/Rapporteur
2,850.00
Meals
11,350.00
Venue Cost
2,600.00
Planning Committee Costs
3,075.60
Operations
1,850.00
Secretariat Expenses
1,700.00
Video & Photography
1,600.00
Digital Media
2,000.00
Balance
3,849.40
ISOC Ghana Account
2,900.00
Cash at Hand
949.40
Appendix D – newspaper rapportage
http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/media-center/news/2116-aiti-kace-hosts-second-ghana-internetgovernance-forum
http://thebftonline.com/business/ict/15825/Gov%E2%80%99t-tackles-cybercrime-%E2%80%A6policy-tobe-laid-in-parliament.html
Government sets up Team to monitor cyber environment
Government sets up Team to
monitor cyber environment
Accra, Oct 29, GNA - Dr Edward Kofi Omane
Boamah, Minister for Communications has
hinted that the Ministry has setup the National
Computer Emergency ...
Read more...
GNA
http://www.ghananewsagency.org/science/government-sets-upteam-to-monitor-cyber-environment-96417
Citifm
http://citifmonline.com/2015/10/31/govt-sets-up-team-to-monitorcyber-environment/
IT professionals to be licenced
http://www.ghananewsagency.org/science/it-professionals-to-belicenced-96407
IT professionals to be licenced
Accra, Oct 29, GNA – The National Information
Technology Agency (NITA) says plans are
underway to licence all information and
technology (IT ...
Read more...
http://www.ghananewsagency.org/science/ghana-must-adopt-internetprotocol-version-six-akumiah--96551
Appendix E – Photo gallery of the Event
DG of AITI-KACE Asking a question
A panel duirng a session session
A section of the participants
Papa Arkhurst chairing a session
The Convener during a Session
Google Ghana Manager during a session
APPENDIX F - List of Participants at Ghana IGF 2015
SUR+E2NAME
Abudey
Ocloo
OTHER NAME
SEX
ORGANISATION
POSITION
SECTOR
ACA
SELORM Jerome
MALE
WIlson
MALE
Ocloo Wilson
Reseach Assistant
Natchiah-Blay
Adea
FEMALE
University of Ghana, legon
anaba
abangah Mohammed
MALE
GIMPA
Asunka
Stephen
MALE
GTUC,
Golo
Hagan Dennis
MALE
AIT
Awanya
Bright
MALE
University of Ghana
Senior Staff (IT)
ACA
Fugar
Joshua Asiwome
MALE
UG Computing Systems
IT Project Officer
ACA
ICT TEACHER
ACA
LARTEY
KELVIN
MALE
Oyoko Methodist School
Arthur
Otieku Boadu
Samuel
MALE
GTUC
Kumah
Allotey
Tay
Mensah
Ankrah
Adekoya
GYIMAH
Antwi
APPIAHENE
Richard
UG, CHS
Gerald
MALE
Gilbert Nii Adotey
MALE
Blessing
Daniel, Kofi
Evans
FEMALE
SIIMT
Siimt
Uhas
ACA
Director, Centre for Online Learning
ACA
Lecturer
ACA
ACA
ICT assistant
ACA
Student
ACA
Student
ACA
Administrative assistant
ACA
Student
ACA
MALE
Facilitator
ACA
Professor & Head of Department
ACA
Adebayo Felix
MALE
University of Ghana
Uni.of Energy and Natural
Resources,
SETH ADJEI
MALE
University of Ghana
FIELD ENGINEER
ACA
Kwaku
MALE
GIMPA
Uni.of Energy and Natural
Resources,
PHD Researcher
ACA
PETER
MALE
MALE
University of Ghana
Amezi
James Anani
MALE
Central University College
Matthew
MALE
University of Ghana
Male
GES
MALE
ICT Teachers Forum
Amankwah
electrician technician
University of Ghana
Amadu
Ansah
ACA
MALE
Yusif
Danquah
Student
ACA
Shadrack Mensah
Asare Nketia
LECTURER
ACA
ACA
Asst. Director (IT)
Poicy & Planning Analyst
Teacher
President
ACA
ACA
ACA
ACA
Ametozion
William
MALE
University of Ghana
Security Analyst
ACA
Degadjor
MacJordan
MALE
Africa New Media
COO
ACA
Brown
Peter
MALE
Ghana Education Service Central
Regional ICT Coordinator
ACA
AbandohSam
Joseph Ahor
MALE
Valley View University
Lecturer
ACA
Nkrumah
Sampson
MALE
GTUC
Course representative
ACA
Quist-Aphetsi
Kester
MALE
Asare-Odei
Kofi
MALE
University of Ghana
Appiah
Joel
MALE
Central University
Barden
Kofi Nuamah
MALE
Barden
Kofi Nuamah
MALE
Nkrumah
Sampson
Takyi
Enoch
Agbessitse
Mensah Komla
Mintah
Therson
DANSO
Apanka
MALE
Ghana Technology University
AITI-KACE
ACA
Course representative
ACA
GHIPSS
Express Savings & Loans
MALE
ACA
AITI-KACE
Male
Jonathan
System Admin
GTUC
AfDB
MALE
ACA
ACA
Systems Administrator
systems Administrator - service
personnel
Male
SOLOMON
Lecturer
Ghana Tourism Authority
Card Services Officer
ICT Officer
ACA
FIN
FIN
Ag Head, IT
FIN
Ass. Network Admin
GOV
GOV
MENSAH
MICHAEL
atiemo
seth wiafe
MALE
Elgin
MALE
Kariyama
Raphael Azare
MALE
Ministry of the Interior
Head, IT
GOV
ADAFIENU
PATRICIA
FEMALE
CERT-GH
CYBER SECURITY ANALYST
GOV
Kyei Baffour
GOV
GOV
Ghana highways Authority
Junior staff
Gidisu
Gibson Graham
MALE
Wiredu
AborahBoateng
Spilker
MALE
CERT-GH
FEMALE
NITA
Yeboah
Derrick
Male
NITA
Akumiah
Eric
MALE
NITA
Director
ANKRAH
PRINCE
MALE
NCA
PRINCIPAL MANAGER, IT
GOV
Hoetu
Ivy
FEMALE
NCA
Engineering Officer
GOV
Nelson
Herbert Napoleon
MALE
GNFS HQ
OICICT
GOV
Serwaa Eunice
NITA, CERT-GH
GOV
GOV
Cyber Security Analyst
National Servic
GOV
GOV
GOV
GOV
Aazore
Fred Kwadwo
MALE
ISOC KNUSTCaucus,
President
GOV
Baiden
Francis Ephraim
MALE
Judicial Service
Deputy Director of ICT/eJustice
GOV
Sowah
Evans Adjetey
MALE
NITA
Aptech Computer EducationGhana
IP/MPLS Service Manager
GOV
Head of Academics
GOV
Owusu
FrimpongManso
Ibrahim
Iddrisu
Degbato
AHIABU
Amable
Quartey
ODONKOR
Sarfo
Twumasi
Kwasi
MALE
Seth
MALE
Fareed
MALE
Public Services Commission
National Society of Black
Engineers
IT Officer
GOV
Membership Chair
NGO
Andy
NGO
HOLY KOFI
MALE
SMILE CHILD FOUNDATION
ICT COORDINATOR
NGO
Philip Kwabla
MALE
Smile Child Foundation
Teacher
NGO
Linda Naa Oyoo
DANIEL NII ADOM
Bernard
FEMALE
One Baobab
Managing Partner
NGO
MALE
EAGLE FOUNDATION
CEO
NGO
Male
NGO
assan
kofi akwa
Male
Amaning
Francis Acquah
MALE
Ghana Internet Registry
System Administrator
NGO
NGO
Issah
Vanessa
FEMALE
GIR
Network Security Admin
NGO
Dega
Billy James
MALE
NSBE Ghana
Director of Programmes
NGO
Adzamli
Kofi James
MALE
ISOC Ghana
Financial Controller
NGO
ISOC Ghana Chapter
Member
NGO
Nartey
Felix
MALE
Vitalis Unji
UNJI
MALE
Ahadzi
Joseph
MALE
Awalenga
Bismark
MALE
Komladza
Owusu
Morrison
Wonder
MALE
Asuman-Adu
NGO
Ghana Chamber of Commerce
Edward
MALE
MP-Infrastructure Company
Akosua
FEMALE
TKF
Kwame Richard
MALE
Surfline Communication Ltd
Otchere
Rebecca
FEMALE
Nelson
Thomas
Abiana
Ecklu
John
Scott
Edem
Dorimonaah
Mensah
Yawlui
Sharma
MILLS
Paul
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Gestalt Organization Consulting
Asomaning
Dey
Administration Assistant
RackAfrica
MALE
RackAfrica
FEMALE
RackAfrica
Business Analyst Officer
4G Radio Access Network Engineer
CEO
IT Security
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Corporate Sales
PRIV. SEC
Corporate Sales
PRIV. SEC
Sales Admin
PRIV. SEC
MindStrom Media Productio
Network Administrator
PRIV. SEC
MALE
RackAfrica
Head of Sales
PRIV. SEC
Maxwell
MALE
RackAfrica
Corporate Sales
PRIV. SEC
Emmanuel
MALE
RackAfrica
Head of Sales and Marketing
FEMALE
RackAfrica
International sales
CEO
Dormenyo
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Rajnish
MALE
RackAfrica
LESLIE
MALE
SALES AND MARKETING
PRIV. SEC
MALE
Simplify - IT
PRIV. SEC
Baah - Amoako
PRIV. SEC
ATTAH
ATTAH
Acquaisie
Tagoe
TAY AGBOZO
MAWULI
MALE
MAWULI
MALE
Mark Antwi
MALE
Derrick
REGINALD SHINE
IS INTERNET SOLUTIONS GH. LTD
IS INTERNET SOLUTIONS GH. LTD
ShellShield Company limited
MALE
MobileWorld Magazine
MALE
OPEN FIELD INVESTMENT
Bossoh
Godfred
MALE
Coca Cola Gh Ltd
Asare
Emmanuel
MALE
Origgin Ltd
Kuphe
Tevi-Lacle
Akpeloo
Ayandoo
Tagoe
Caleb kwabena ayitey
Tete Daya
MALE
ICT Today Services
MALE
Ghpulse.com
SNR. ENTERPRISE SALES ACCOUNT
MANAGER
SNR. ENTERPRISE SALES ACCOUNT
MANAGER
CEO
Content Manager
CEO
Business Process Analyst
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Network Technician
online Media Cordinator
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Tsonam Cleanse
MALE
Techcom Visions ltd
CEO
PRIV. SEC
John
MALE
It Pays Enterprise
CEO
PRIV. SEC
samuel Armah
MALE
Big ideaz consult ltd
I.T Manager
PRIV. SEC
Fouillard
Maurice
MALE
Internet Solutions Ghana
Network Engineer
PRIV. SEC
Aboubacar
Almoustapha
MALE
IT Consultant
PRIV. SEC
Sowah
KwaoAgboado
Stephen Nii Adjei
MALE
AMDOCS
CEO
Senior Telecom Systems Engineer,
Consultant
Chanik
PRIV. SEC
MALE
MegaSoft
CEO
PRIV. SEC
Biney
Jennifer
Female
Surfline
Contract Specialist
PRIV. SEC
Madjri
Quam M.
Male
Broadband Home Ltd.
Network Engineer
PRIV. SEC
Amaning
Richard
Male
Broadband Home Ltd
Support Engineer
PRIV. SEC
Maintenance coordinator
PRIV. SEC
Aidoo Darkwa
Obeng Yaw
MALE
AlisaHotels
Ackah-Blay
Daniel
MALE
Josren Ventures CompanyLtd
IT Officer
PRIV. SEC
Addo
Ofosu
MALE
Arriw Network Systems
Network Engineer
PRIV. SEC
Anum
Henry Ofoli
MALE
GITechnologies
oti
stephen
MALE
Agbata
Prince
MALE
Ahiaku
Cephas Kwashie
MALE
PRIV. SEC
broadband home ltd
Managing Director
senior manager, technical customer
service
IDEA Africa
Chief Technical Officer
PRIV. SEC
Real Intel Limited
Director
PRIV. SEC
PRIV. SEC
Affram
Nana Yaw
MALE
Algorithm Ltd
Network Administrator
PRIV. SEC
Agboado
Jahlom Precious
MALE
Rappts
CEO
PRIV. SEC
MALE
Judicial Service
Data Analyst
Andrew Christian
Afful
Gambase
PRIV. SEC
Edward
MALE
Onebig Systems
System Analyst
PRIV. SEC
A. Moses
MALE
TEWU of TUC GH
industrial relation officer
TRADE UNION
Appendix G – Report on Proceedings at Ghana IGF 2015
__________________________________________________
REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS AT THE GHANA IGF 2015
__________________________________________________
28 October, 2016
December 2015
Contents
BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 23
OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM .................................. 24
SETTING THE AGENDA SESSION............................................................................................. 27
YOUTH IGF SESSION ................................................................................................................ 29
CYBER SECURITY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME SESSION .................................. 30
AFFORDABLE INTERNET SESSION ........................................................................................... 31
OPEN AND SAFE INTERNET SESSION ..................................................................................... 32
CRITICAL INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES SESSION ..................................... 33
BUILDING A ROBUST REN FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT SESSION .......................... 34
CREATING LOCAL CONTENT SESSION ................................................................................. 35
CLOSING SESSION .................................................................................................................. 36
COMMUNIQUE FROM GHANA IGF 2015 ............................................................................. 37
BACKGROUND
The 2015 Ghana Internet Governance Forum (Ghana IGF) was organized at the Kofi
Annan Center of Excellence in IT in Accra, Ghana on the 28th October, 2015. The
theme of the forum was “Ensuring Freedom, Security and Growth in our Digital World”.
The Forum brought together stakeholders from the Internet Ecosystem to speak to
issues pertaining to governance in Cyber security, affordability of the Internet, Internet
safety, Critical Internet Infrastructure, creation of Local content and to discuss topics
such as building a robust Research and Education Network for Accelerated
Development.
OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM
The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Mr. Issah Yahaya, Chief Director at the
Ministry of Communications. He stated that it is imperative to heighten youth
participation in Internet Governance for the reason that, the youth are the leaders of
ICT today.
He noted that, the discussion and outcome of the 2015 Forum will be presented at the
upcoming Brazil Convention and could also be included in the Ghana
IT
compendium.
The Convener of the Forum, Prof. Nii Quaynor in his welcome address stressed the
importance of the youth involvement in IG, and cautioned that the Internet
Governance objectives should be well balanced to avoid skewing towards privacy,
security ora particular element of the Internet.
Keynote
Mr. Issah Yahaya read the Keynote Address with the following highlights on behalf of
the Minister of Communication, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah:
•
The 2015 Ghana IGF is very timely as the UN General Assembly will review and
implement the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) in December 2015 during its 70th Session
•
All stakeholders should be committed to building an inclusive and
development-oriented Information Society to enable individuals create, utilize
and share information and knowledge to achieve their full potential
•
To work together to improve access to ICT infrastructure, to build capacity,
increase confidence and security in the use of ICT and to encourage global
cooperation among others
•
Ghana has made significant strides in the area of ICT through mobile data
penetration, submarine cable network, fibre cable rollouts to improve
connectivity and so forth
•
Commended the CERT-GH,Internet Society, NITA, NCA for supporting the
Forum to find solutions to address challenges of the industry
Opening remarks by Key Stakeholders
Ghana IXP Director- Alex Sulzberger
•
Showed appreciation of the presence of Internet in Ghana since
1995 and also mentioned that private people did well by introducing
Internet in Ghana. He spoke about the work of GIXP and indicated
that the organization offers valuable services to end-users
National Communication Authority Director General - William Tevie
•
The role of NCA, licensing of companies and also introducing new
frequencies to increase penetration of internet services
•
The importance of the 2015 Forum to create a platform for exchange
of ideas and to create awareness of the trends in the Internet
ecosystem
National IT Agency Ag. Director General - George Atta-Boateng
•
Government has equipped NITA tremendously to have effective
engagements with IT professionals and to provide appropriate
licenses and to exposed the citizenry to efficient use of the Internet.
AITI-KACE Director General - Dorothy Gordon
•
Africa is a late comer in the Internet world and we are not having
the benefits of the Internet. Internet is new gold, the data gold
however, most people are not aware of what pertains in the Internet
ecosystem.
•
She urged all and sundry to have the momentum to spread the
message from the Forum.
ISOC Ghana President - Marcus Adomey
•
The Society engages stakeholders in quarterly interactions to discuss
issues affecting the Internet and to explore ways to improve
governance of the Internet.
Ghanaian Academic and Research Network Ag. CEO – Ben Eshun
•
GarNET builds high speed network within the academic community for
superior collaborations and innovations in research and other
academic endeavors
SETTING THE AGENDA SESSION
Session Chair: Professor Nii Quaynor, Ghana IGF Convener
Panelist: Awo Aidam Amanyah, Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Albert Antwi-Bosiako, Eric
Akumiah
The panel members of this session discussed the key issues in Ghana on Internet
Governance with respect to the theme. The Chair made the following remarks:
The Forum is non-binding meaning it is not a decision making Forum but a platform
for information and knowledge sharing as well as for exchange of ideas.
The following comments was attributed to the speakers on the panel:
Awo Aidam Amenyah, Executive Director of J-Initiative:
•
Children safety within the Cyberspace is a collective response
•
There is the need for engagement and research to address issues about
some websites advertising unwholesome content to children, cyber
bullying and sexual abuse
•
Importance of counselling sessions for abused children
Kenneth Adu-Amafoh, Head of IT, NCA:
•
The Internet is open for most activities such as business, freedom of speech,
education etc
•
The Internet is not regulated therefore it is imperative to ensure its security
for accessibility and safety
•
It is the responsibility of government, civil society organizations and all
stakeholders to be vigilant about fraudsters and malicious activities on the
Internet.
Albert Antwi-Bosiako, Founder and CEO, eCrime Bureau:
•
Cyber criminality has taken an advanced form by moving from
psychological inducements to technical applications of the use of viruses
and other advanced schemes and that call for building collaborative
capacity to deal with cybercrime to ensure cyber security
Mr. Eric Akumiah, Head,CERT-GH:
•
There are various networks coming together for malicious activities as cyber
fraud has become very lucrative venture. However, with collective efforts
and collaborative mechanisms between government and the private
sector there will be solutions for attaining safe cyber space
YOUTH IGF SESSION
Session Chair: James Billy Dega, President National Society of Black Engineers
Panelist: Wisdom Donkor , Linux Club, James Adzamli, ISOC Ghana, Dora Mawutor,
Media Foundation for West Africa, Caucus President, KNUST ISOC Ghana
The youth IGF created a platform for the youth to deliberate on how the youth could
participate effectively in Internet Governance (IG).
Yaovi Atohoun of ICANN made a presentation on Africa DNS Entrepreneurship
Program and highlighted the following:
•
High Level overview of ICANN including establishment, management and
operation of ICANN
•
The 2 main objectives that ICANN seeks to achieve are; to transform the DNS
and Internet Industry in Africa and to promote awareness and meaningful
participation in ICANN.
•
DNS Entrepreneurship program and the ICANN Fellowship program
•
There are incubation centres for the youth and there is the ICANN Next
Generation program for the youth to actively participate in the ICANN
community.
Discussant and participants in the session agreed that there was need to engage
more of the youth especially basic and second cycle pupils and students in future
IGFs. Dorothy It was also agreed that there should be gender balance in future IGF
and other IT-related meetings. There was a call to find avenues to enhance women
participation in issues regarding the Internet.
CYBER SECURITY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME SESSION
Session Chair: Pro. Nii Quaynor, Ghana IGF Convener
Panelist: Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh -NCA, Albert Antwi-Bosiako -eCrime, Kwabena Adu
Boahene-Nat Security, Eric Akumiah CERT-GH
In this session the panel members made presentations that can be summarized as
follows:
•
There are existing policies, Acts, and laws within the cyber space which could
warrant blacklisting of IPs of cyber criminals and fraudsters
•
The policies border on effective governance, legislative and regulatory
framework, research and development towards self-reliance, capacity
building, cyber security technology framework among others
•
To make our laws more resilient to avoid ambiguity in order to have clarity of
the legal procedures to deal with culprits as cybercrimes are becoming more
sophiscated
•
Need to hasten implementation of the cyber security processes and build
capacity to avert foreign infiltration
•
There are daily changes in the Internet ecosystem therefore timelines are key
with regards to e-laws
•
All are affected by what happens elsewhere. It is a global village, there is the
need for dialogue and collaborations
AFFORDABLE INTERNET SESSION
Session Chair: Dorothy Gordon, DG, AITI-KACE
Panelist: Estelle Akrofi-Sowah, GOOGLE Ghana, Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa A4AI Ghana
The following presentations were made:
Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, Country Coordinator, A4AI
•
Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), an Initiative of the Web Foundation, was
inaugurated in 2014 for advocacy through multi-stakeholder consultation to
champion Internet affordability.
•
Many people do not see the need to invest in the Internet. There is an
affordable wholesale network for broadband connection for activities such as
video conferencing and research work
•
Businesses are conducted online in rural China and that should be replicated
in Ghana
•
Online payments are hampered to a large extent there must be improvement
in online monetary transactions.
OPEN AND SAFE INTERNET SESSION
Session Chair: Albert Antwi-Bosiako, eCrime Bureau
Panelist: Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, NCA, Awo Aidam Amenyah, J-Initiative, Kwabena
Adu Boahene, National Security, Dora Mawutor Media Foundation for West Africa
The discussion focused on the following:
•
Need to own and secure data
•
Openness of Internet involves freedom of expression as we have in the physical
world
•
Flow of information is crucial
•
Transparency is key
•
Protection of privacy and confidentiality
•
Access of Internet by all
•
Openness is one of the principles of internet governance so there must be
proper governance to manage three risks namely content or contact risk,
consumer risk and security related risks
•
Restrictions on children’s photos
•
Children prohibited from going to some obscene sites
•
Children to be taught to know how to protect themselves in the Cyberspace
•
Need for digital literacy as what we put on the Internet will remain even if the
information is deleted
CRITICAL INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES SESSION
Chair: Papa Arkhurst, Director IT Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Panelist: Eric Akumiah, NITA, Alex Sulzberger, GIXP, Archie Hesse, GhiPPs
A presentation on Critical Internet Infrastructure was made by Eric Akumiah, NITA:
•
explained that the Internet runs on domain name, registry, IP Numbers
resources, and exchange points and the registry manages the domain
•
The need to adopt number system and migration plan for IPv6 as well as
capacity building for Network operators.
•
Like Ivory Coast, the registry project is working to have a copy of the root server
in Ghana
Alex Sulzberger, GIXP
•
The exchange points to be connected to the West African countries as a
platform to enhance internet traffic
Archie Hesse, Ghana Inter Payment Platform (GhiPP)
•
GHIPS is an arm of the central bank and is putting infrastructure together to
connect all the banks electronically and to create an ecosystem for the use
of an e-card called white card which is locally made to support businesses
•
There is authentication of a white card holder to secure online transaction
BUILDING A ROBUST REN FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT SESSION
Chair: Dr. Narteh Siaw Sappor, Board Member, Ghana Post
Panelist: Ben Eshun, Ag. CEO, GARNET, Dr. Godfred Frimpong, STEPPRI, CSIR
•
Ghana Open Data Initiative is open to the public to empower citizens and for
the government to improve on public services through e-services
•
To bring stakeholders together for dialogue to forestall fibre theft and to
address various concerns
•
The need to have efficient and effective infrastructure and network to improve
bandwidth to enhance research and development.
•
Ghana REN creates avenues for research and development
•
To ensure security, key loggers should be used
•
Promotes linkages for knowledge sharing
CREATING LOCAL CONTENT SESSION
Chair: Dr. Narteh Siaw Sappor Board Member, Ghana Post
Panelist: Estelle Akrofi-Sowah, Google Ghana, Veronica Boateng NITA, Wisdom
Donkor, GODI
•
Government has established eservices.gov.gh as a portal to offer the
opportunity to know about government services
•
It offer relevant links and reduces bureaucracies involved in acquiring national
documents for example passport, tax payments, marriage registration and
others
•
Opportunity to track applications to determine status
•
Empowering the youth to use phones to develop simple apps for development
CLOSING SESSION
In his closing remarks, the Convener, Prof. Nii Quaynor reiterated that, the Forum is not
for decision making purposes but to develop a community for dialogue to build
capacity to safeguard Internet Governance and Cyber security.
He noted that, working groups will be electronically advertised for participants of the
Forum to continue the engagement for the advancement of Internet Governance
and security.
COMMUNIQUE FROM GHANA IGF 2015
At the end of the Forum participants agreed that the following concerns and
recommendations could be incorporated into future IGF.
•
Digital literacy should be heightened since the Internet is used by all, everyone
should be involved in the creation of awareness and knowledge sharing
•
Need to employ avenues to have more women to participate in IT
•
Parents and guardians should be trained to teach the youth and children to
positively use the Internet
•
Caution should be exercised to avoid skewing towards one element of Internet
Governance
•
Government and all stakeholders must establish policies to ensure children
safety within the Cyberspace
•
All stakeholders should be watchdog in detecting malicious activities on the
Internet and effective cooperation and collaboration to keep our cyberspace
safe.
•
The media should help to sensitize the public on issues pertaining to the Internet
•
Government should facilitate program for updating citizens on cyber security
•
Research, collaborations and partnerships should be encouraged by
government facilitating the setting up of the GarNET.
•
There should be clarity of policies and e-laws to avoid ambiguity in the fight
against cybercrime
•
Need for disaster recovery plan,
measures, backups and safeguards to
mitigate natural disasters and malicious attacks
•
Online payments should be enhanced to make it secure and safe
•
Need to empower those in the academic community through a Robust
Research & Education Network (REN) for accelerated development
•
Ghana needs to replicate what is done in rural China by helping the rural folk
in Ghana to use the Internet
•
Ghana needs to speed up the implementation of the the root server project
to enhance Internet
•
Children and the youth should be encouraged to develop simple apps of
economic significance
•
National Data Centre to provide service to all citizens and business who require
its use
•
Ghana to host ICANN Africa Road Show and DNS Entrepreneurship program in
2016