[AfrICANN-discuss] a new cert in africa

[Jean Robert Hountomey - AfricaCERT]

Source: 
http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/general-news/13909-nitacert-to-limit-cyber-attack-on-govt-information-

Senior Managers with Information and Communication Technology staffs of 
Ministries and Security Agencies have been schooled on the new security 
incidence response system to mitigate cyber security risks from internal 
and external sources.

The strategy, called the National Information Technology Agency Computer 
Emergency Response Team, (NITACERT) has been introduced to be a 
coordinating center for cyber security attacks.
Dr. Nii Quaynor, Chairman of NITA, speaking at an Awareness Creation 
forum in Accra, said as part of the strategy, a similar capacity 
building event would be started in July for staff of Metropolitan, 
Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA).

He said NITA would set up NITACERTs in all MMDAs to coordinate all 
incidents and share intelligence on new threats and publish incidence 
reports on its websites monthly.
He explained that although cyber security possibly could not absolutely 
be eliminated, risks of attack could be mitigated to an acceptable 
level. “If the constituents of the networks on which they receive 
service are aware of the possible attacks and there are structures for 
reporting of incidences on the network it would help greatly,” he said.

Dr. Quaynor announced that NITA had rolled out a very extensive network 
with fiber optics and data centers to ensure that MMDAs had Information 
Technology services to improve efficiency and engage the citizenry 
through eServices. The next phase of the network would see further 
upgrades and expansion, he assured.

As part of NITA’s mandate to help government engage with citizens in 
governance and accountability, NITA has started the Ghana Open Data 
Initiative (GODI).
This initiative focuses on making government data/information available 
in a numeric format so that civil society and the developer community 
can create graphical applications to engage citizens in governance 
through critique and feedback to enhance efficiency and policy planning.

Mr William Tevie, Director General of NITA, said his outfit was 
determined to expand the network to the design capacity of 1,550 sites 
and cover all of the current 170 districts and to make the Government’s 
network fast.

He said as part of network improvement, a second data center in Kumasi, 
in the Ashanti region and a back datacenter in Takoradi in the Western 
region would be set up.

Mr Tevie said an e-Health programme would soon be deployed on pilot 
basis in the three teaching hospitals and a correspondence management 
system also deployed at all MDAs.

NITA has put in place very stringent security measures at the network 
operation center because as a network expands, its security becomes 
critical.

Marcus K. G. Adomey, an Official of the University of Ghana, said cyber 
space crime had been modernized and was becoming more sophisticated.

He called on the public to help fight cybercrime.

Source: GNA