The collaboration seeks to develop cyber security programmes and conduct research in the areas of cyber security, cyber intelligence and forensics and cyber incident responses, among others.

A statement from the centre and copied to the Ghana News Agency said two certificates courses – Certificate Programme in Cyber Security and Certificate Programme in Cyber Intelligence and Forensics, have been developed to build the capacity of both public and private sector institutions.

The courses are expected to benefit policy makers, industry practitioners and law enforcement professionals. Commenting on the collaboration, Air-Vice Marshal Griffiths Santrofi Evans, the Commandant of the Centre said participants from Ghana and West Africa were expected to benefit from the courses, scheduled to be held in August and December.

He said the Centre had for the past five years integrated cyber security modules into its curricula for post-graduate academic programmes. He said the modules have been facilitated by experts from the e-Crime Bureau, and the MOU would further consolidate a fruitful partnership nurtured over the years.

Air-Vice Marshal Evans highlighted the need for cyber security programmes due to heightened security threats targeting the West African sub-region. Mr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the Principal Consultant at e-Crime Bureau, said the collaboration between the Bureau and the Centre was a clear manifestation of both institutions’ commitment towards implementing Ghana’s National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet in November 2016.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako noted that due to the increasing use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), cyber threats have been identified among the most pressing challenges to the security of individuals, institutions and the state at large.

“The increasing use of computing technology all over the world has led to a new generation of criminal activities globally.  “Various research and analysis conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa and the Centre suggests cybercrime was impacting on other transnational crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and drug trafficking”, he added.