Kofi Ampeah Woode
Germany’s Gesellschaft fúr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has held a three-day forum – the Her Cyber Tracks West Africa Forum – as part of a four-month long plan, to support women improve their skills and confidence and actively participate in the cyberspace and its policy formulations.
The sub-regional version of the Her Cyber Tracks Forum, took place at the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Training Centre of Excellence (TCE) – KAIPTC – on Tuesday 17 October, 2023, with the theme: “Build, Inspire and Empower”.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour, Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization – Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who incidentally trained in 2016 in cyber security at KAIPTC, recounted the benefits derived from the knowledge acquired, and thus urged the participants to be ambassadors to draw as many women as possible, into the sector, opining that “digital technology is made for women”.
She also asserted that there is a yawning gender digital divide in the cyber space, with just a quarter of cyber roles globally filled by women, and thus the need to take deliberate steps to encourage more women to engage within the cyber space, a sector which still has need for critical skills.
She told the women participants that it is incumbent on women to embrace the opportunities that the cyber space affords to work remotely, safely, multitask and to use their natural in-born skills to impact the sector.
She went on to say that there are many advantages to women participation in the space as they possess in abundance a unique range of strong communication skills, pay attention to details, have empathy, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, all of which are essential in the sector, to foster innovation and creativity for better solutions.
On Ghana’s efforts in the cyberspace, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said, since 2017, Ghana has passed its Cybersecurity ACT, set up the Cyber Security Authority and equipping it, commenced an active program of awareness creation, setup a 24/7 Point of Contact for people anywhere in the country to call and send messages, if they are faced with any challenge and be assisted.
She elaborated on Ghana’s national “Girls in ICT” program, which she said has so far trained a thousand young girls aged between 9 and 16 from the most remote parts of the country, majority of whom have never seen a computer before, but after a week’s instruction, they build their own websites, games, engage comfortably and their world view changes.
She continued to say that her Ministry pursues a mentorship session, where women in technology come in and encourage those girls to pursue the possibilities of improving their knowledge in science and technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and to consider careers in the digital space, instead of the conventional ones.
The girls are exposed to robotics engineering, software engineering, network provision, amongst others, after which the best 100 are sent to Accra to spend a week with women active in practical technology, in tech firms, mobile network operators, and agencies under the Ministry, to whip their interest in lucrative job opportunities in the sector.
Her Excellency (HE) Regine Grienberger – Cyber Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, stated that women are key actors in securing long-term peace and security for all, and must be better involved in the cybersecurity field as experts and policy makers.
She asserted that Germany’s foreign policy of advocating inclusivity in cybersecurity is not just a noble aspiration, and that having women and diverse perspectives at the table is a necessity.
She thus urged participants in the Her Cyber Tracks, to ask questions, forge connections with peers, share knowledge, engage in debates, and challenge assumptions, as they are prepared in cyber diplomacy by the forum.
The Commandant, KAIPTC – Major General (Maj Gen) Richard Addo Gyane, in his welcome address said the program aligns with the Centre’s commitment to inspiring African women leaders in peace and security, and affords the opportunity to reinforce KAIPTC’s dedication to Women, Peace, and Security while advancing its cybersecurity efforts.
The Commandant continued that the inclusion of women’s voices and perspectives is not only a matter of equality but also a matter of security, for diverse teams are more resilient, creative, and effective in addressing the complex challenges of the digital age.
“To fully realize the importance of women in cybersecurity, it is essential to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages women to pursue careers in the field, which will in turn provide opportunities for their growth and advancement”, he concluded.
Miss Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi – Cyber Programs Officer at the ITU, said there is an increased importance in cybersecurity as the globe is increasingly being connected in the digital world, and that the ITU is participating in the program to reiterate the importance and the need for a meaningful equal participation of women in cybersecurity.
She said as the ITU focuses on improving on the inclusion of women in the field, it does so by scaling, training, mentorship and networking, by building skills and capacity of women to be able to make meaningful contributions; inspiring through role modeling with mentors; and empowering with connections and resources.
She said the approach to the cause has been regional, as the program covers European countries like the Western Balkans, some Eastern European countries and now West Africa, then onsite activities together, which helps form regional cooperation and learn lessons through interactions between women policy makers and diplomats across countries in the same region.
Her Cyber Tracks West Africa Forum is not a one off event, but also a transformative experience that spans four months, encompassing online trainings, mentorship circles, and networking events.
It grants the opportunity to engage in multilateral negotiations and a United Nations-level simulation of international cyber diplomacy, which would empower, educate, and elevate the voices of all, including women in the cybersecurity realm.
Present included Germany’s Ambassador to Ghana – HE Daniel Krull; Ms Alissa Frenkel of the GIZ; Training Director, KAIPTC – Colonel (Col) Barnabas Anorph Akanbong; Course Director – Col Daniel Agbeko, and the women course participants drawn from ECOWAS countries.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
