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The Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, has asked the Deputy Minister-Designate for Communications and Digitalisation, Mr. Charles Acheampong, to use his vetting at the appointments committee of Parliament to convey the challenges confronting the Authority.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako was speaking when Mr. Acheampong paid a courtesy call on the management of the CSA in Accra recently to familiarise himself with the operations of the organisation ahead of his vetting.

According to the Director-General, cybersecurity is a global issue that requires attention, for which reason the CSA must be properly resourced with motivated staff to commit to their responsibilities of safeguarding Ghana’s critical information infrastructure.

President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his recent ministerial reshuffle, relieved Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng of her position and appointed Mr. Acheampong as the Deputy Minister for the Ministry.

As part of his preparation to appear before the appointments committee of parliament to be vetted to determine his suitability for the new role, Mr. Acheampong set out to visit agencies under the Ministry to arm himself with the desired knowledge about the sector.

At the CSA, which is one of the critical agencies under the Ministry, the Deputy Minister-designate was received by Dr. Antwi-Boasiako and other management members who walked him through the genesis of the Authority.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako congratulated the deputy minister-designate on his appointment, indicating that he was pleased because Mr. Acheampong, being a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, was conversant with the happenings in the sector.

“The CSA is a creation of this government, and so it has a responsibility to resource the institution with the needed logistics and funding to execute its mandate,” he added.

Noting the successes the CSA had chalked over the past few years, including Ghana’s cybersecurity rating by the International Telecommunications Union, which is currently at 86.69 percent, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako, added that the CSA was further striving to achieve its vision of being the first country in Africa in terms of cybersecurity readiness and among the top 25 globally in the next three years.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako, however, pointed out the challenges facing the institution, including the stalled office building and shortfalls in staff compensation.

He stressed that the story of the CSA was one of resilience and that despite the difficulties, the staff remained committed to their work.

Responding, the Deputy Minister-designate assured the CSA of the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Authority and pledged his dedication to advocate for the issues laid out by the Director-General.