By Mabel Esinam Awagah
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at GIMPA, Dr. Emmanuel Antwi-Boasiako, has urged the government to establish a system for integrating trained cybersecurity professionals into the workforce.
He believes that while investing in training is commendable, it is not enough. A coordinated effort is needed to ensure that individuals trained in cybersecurity can meaningfully contribute to the country’s digital defense systems.
Reacting to former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent launch of the One Million Coders program, an initiative aimed at equipping the youth with digital skills, on the Uniiq Breakfast Drive on Friday, April 25, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako proposed that the government create a tracking system to monitor the progress of trainees and facilitate job placement across various sectors.
“Once the government has initiated this training, I believe it should go all the way to ensure that after these individuals have acquired the skills, there will be opportunities for them to apply the knowledge they’ve gained,” he said.
“If we don’t put in proper measures, and these people, after training, go outside the country, they will end up helping other nations defend against cyberattacks instead of strengthening our own systems. So, I think we should create room for those we are training to be easily absorbed into our system,” he added.
Dr. Antwi-Boasiako also stressed the increasing threat of cyberattacks and urged individuals to adopt better digital hygiene practices, such as turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use, and called on institutions, especially banks, to protect customers’ personal data.
“Whatever we are doing, let’s also ensure that we are being ethical. For example, if you are a bank collecting information from an individual, make sure that information is properly protected. That’s one major challenge,” he explained.
“Any time you walk into an institution collecting your data, you can request their data protection policy. If they don’t have one, you have the right not to provide your personal information. Many of the problems we face today stem from poor handling of private data.”
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of ethical data practices, adding, “I encourage institutions that collect private data to ensure it is well protected. How we use our phones also matters. Some of us leave our Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on when we’re not even using them. That alone can allow someone to hack into your phone.”
