The Ghana Cybersecurity Industry Forum (GCIF) has positioned itself as a key platform for bringing cybersecurity professionals and organisations together to strengthen Ghana’s response to cybercrime and protect the country’s growing digital economy.

Established under Section 81 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), the Forum provides a platform for the cybersecurity industry to come together and discuss matters of common interest.

It is expected to serve as a structured coordination mechanism for cybersecurity stakeholders across different sectors of the economy.

One of the GCIF’s key responsibilities is to engage regulators and support them in developing cybersecurity directives, regulations and approaches for their respective sectors.

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It will also support the implementation and rollout of such measures to strengthen cyber defences across the economy.

Another major focus is threat intelligence and information sharing. When an organisation suffers a cyberattack, details about the methods used can help other potential victims strengthen their defences.

However, such information must be shared through an organised and confidential system rather than in the public domain.

Incident response is also a major part of the Forum’s mandate. The GCIF wants cybersecurity stakeholders to become more coordinated and responsive when attacks occur and to prevent individual incidents from developing into wider systemic threats, particularly as cybercriminals can quickly replicate successful attack methods.

The Forum is also focused on developing Ghana’s cybersecurity workforce through professional training, continuing education, mentorship and leadership development.

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It said Ghana needs a steady pipeline of young professionals entering the field, adding that cybersecurity is not limited to people with information technology degrees.

Membership is open to individual cybersecurity professionals, accredited organisations, students and honorary members.

Individual voting members must be accredited by the Cybersecurity Authority, while student membership is intended to encourage more young people to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

The GCIF has so far received 360 membership applications, of which 210 have been approved.

The Forum also intends to recognise outstanding professionals through annual awards and provide members with opportunities to contribute to cybersecurity policy and regulatory discussions.

The GCIF, however, operates as an independent body and does not receive funding from the government or other external sources. It is therefore relying mainly on membership registrations and projects to generate funds for its operations.

The Forum is currently being run on an interim basis by an 11-member professional body that has established its committees, operational processes and membership portal.

Ultimately, the GCIF aims to help create a globally trusted, secure and resilient digital Ghana supported by a coordinated cybersecurity industry.

DR/MA

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