Report on the Ghana IGF 2015 ______

______Report on the Ghana IGF 2015 ______

Ghana IGF Secretariat c/o CERT-GH Coordination Centre 6th Floor, Ghana Multimedia Centre High Street, Accra Ghana [email protected]

November 2015

Contents

Background ...... 4

Basis for the organizing the Ghana IGF ...... 4

Funding for Event ...... 4

Organizational Structure for organizing event ...... 5

Event Program & Organization ...... 6

Program ...... 6

Organization and participation ...... 6

Press Coverage ...... 6

Challenges & Way Forward ...... 6

APPENDICES ...... 7 Appendix A- List of Steering and Planning Committees & Secretariat Volunteers ...... 8

Appendix B- Program for Event ...... 10

Appendix C – Financial Statement ...... 14

Appendix D – newspaper rapportage ...... 15

Appendix E – Photo gallery of the Event ...... 17

APPENDIX F - List of Participants at Ghana IGF 2015 ...... 18 Appendix G – Report on Proceedings at Ghana IGF 2016 ...... 21

Declaration

The Ghana National IGF fully supports and implements the established procedures and criteria of the global IGF to be an open, inclusive and non-commercial event that applies a multistakeholder model during the preparations and the organization of the event. Background

The 2015 Ghana IGF had been in planning since March 2015 by the Internet Society Ghana Chapter and the Ministry of Communications through the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). However, during the First STC-CCICT Ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa in September 2015, the leader of the Ghana delegation, Hon. Ato Sarpong, Deputy Minister of Communication, Ghana, met with the Internet Society’s Vice President on Global Policy, Sally Wentworth and the Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Bekele on a bi-lateral to discuss Ghana’s involvement in the Global Internet Governance Process. Hon. Ato Sarpong affirmed that Ghana was on course to hold its IGF before the global IGF and would be happy for any support Internet Society could provide to Ghana. He tasked the former ISOC Ghana president and member of Ghana’s delegation to liaise with the Internet Society to organize the Ghana IGF event.

Basis for the organizing the Ghana IGF

In 2014, the Internet Society organized a public forum on Ghana’s multi-stakeholder model and Internet Governance Forum. During this event, ISOC unveiled its proposal for institutionalizing the Ghana IGF and making it a permanent feature in Ghana. It is on the basis of this model that the organizational structure was put in place.

Funding for Event

At the indication of the General Secretary of ISOC Ghana Chapter who attended the ISOC Africa Peering Event, a request for funding was made about three weeks to the event to the IGF Support Association based in South Africa for the sum of USD2, 000. This fund was received by ISOC Ghana before the planning activities began. A request of USD 3,500 for a small grant facility was made to Internet Society three days to the event and this was approved and disbursed. A top-up funding request was also made to the National Communications Authority, Ghana, to bridge the funding gap and this also received a favourable response. We are very grateful to all our sponsors for making the event possible. A detailed financial statement for the event is attached as appendix to this report.

Organizational Structure for organizing event

To organize the event, an adhoc set of bodies were formed. This included the following:

• Steering Committee The highest body of multi-stakeholders to IGF to approve program and any other things such as budget for the organization of the IGF. It was chaired by the Convener (Private Sector) and co-chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications

• Planning Committee

A planning committee that would oversee the organization of the IGF. It was comprised 10 members and had National Communications authority and Google Ghana co-chairing

• Secretariat An Interim Secretariat comprising, Ag. IGF Coordinator (NITA) and Assistant Coordinator (ISOC) was set up to implement the IGF program.

A list of all members of the committees and secretariat is attached to this document as appendix A.

Event Program & Organization

Program

The planning started with an event program that was drafted in March 2015 by NITA. The secretariat discussed the program with the convener and the updated program was put before the planning committee for discussion. An updated draft was then put before the Steering Committee for approval before implementation started in earnest with only two weeks to the event. A final copy of the program is attached as appendix.

Organization and participation

A total of 128 participants registered online to participate in the event. The secretariat sent out about 40 invitation letters to CEO, Chief Directors at Ministries and several important persons within the Internet Ecosystem.

All letters to speakers were also dispatch by secretariat and follow –ups made. There was about 85% speaker turn-out and about 198 participants in all attended the Ghana IGF. There was also a live streaming of the event and very sizeable number of online participants followed the event. The video of the event can be found at http://ghanaigf.org/videos/ . These participants asked questions and

contributed to the discussions. Attached to this document is the list of participants who attended the event.

Press Coverage

The event received an appreciable amount of publicity with over eleven major press houses from radio, print and TV covering the event. Attached as appendix is a list of some of the online stories reported.

Challenges & Way Forward

From every perspective, the Ghana IGF 2015 was a great success. The rather short time to pull off the event resulted in an 85% speaker turn out although the publishing of the event in the largest circulating newspaper and other advertising channel contributed to a very good turnout. Moving forward, with the interim structures in place, preparation for the next Ghana IGF will begin in good time, so all issues will be dealt with into more detail. The secretariat will work towards adopting a working document and opening of an IGF account to facilitate easy organization.

APPENDICES

Appendix A- List of Steering and Planning Committees & Secretariat Volunteers Ghana National IGF Governance Structure & Interim Membership

Steering Committee membership:

ó Name ó Institution ó Role ó Sector ó Prof Nii Quaynor GDC Limited Convener/Chair Private

Mr. Issah Yahaya Ministry of Communications Co-Chair Government Mr. Ernest Brown GISPA Member Private Ms Dorothy Gordon AITI-KACE Member Academia Mr. William Tevie National Communications Member – Government Authority

Roles: • Oversight of Ghana IG Forum activities • Highest decision making body for GIGF • Responsible for Executive buy-in and support for IGF projects • Responsible for providing leads to sustain GIGF

Planning Committee Membership

Representative Name of Institution Role Sector

Kenneth Adu- NCA Chair Government Amanfoh Eric Kumah-Baku NITA Member Government

Sarata Omane AITI-KACE Member Academia

Dora Mawutor MFWA Scribe/ NGO Secretary Estelle Akofio-Sowah Google Member Private

Vera AKumiah ISOC Member NGO

Vanessa Issah Ghana Domain Name Member NGO Registry Linux Group Member Technical Wisdom Donkoh Community

Vitus Aborogu Ghana Dot Com Member Private

Roles:

ó Plan annual IGF and mini IGF events around the year ó Implement events with support of Ghana IGF secretariat ó Support Secretariat in public awareness creation of Ghana IGF

Operations:

- Convene planning meeting to discuss:

o Draft Program by Secretariat

o Budget

o Speakers

o Actions for IGF

Interim National IGF Secretariat

Name Institution Role Sector

Eric Akumiah, CERT-GH AG. Coordinator Goverment Marcus Adomey, ISOC GH Ag. Deputy NGO Coordinator, Patricia Adafienu CERT-GH Admin Assistant Government

Roles

ó Support Steering and planning committee activities with secretarial services ó Facilitate annual IGF fora ó Manage all correspondence ó Manage mailing list and website ó PR and awareness creation o Publicity o Social media o PR events management o Mailing lists

Appendix B- Program for Event

Appendix C – Financial Statement

Ghana IGF INCOME STATEMENT

Exchange Rate USD1: GHS3.8

USD GHS GHS

Income 35,900.00

NCA 15,000.00

IGFSA 2000 7,600.00

Internet Society 3500 13,300.00

Expenditure

32,050.60

Marketing 5,025.00

Media relations/Rapporteur 2,850.00

Meals 11,350.00

Venue Cost 2,600.00

Planning Committee Costs 3,075.60

Operations 1,850.00

Secretariat Expenses 1,700.00

Video & Photography 1,600.00

Digital Media 2,000.00

Balance 3,849.40

ISOC Ghana Account 2,900.00

Cash at Hand 949.40 Appendix D – newspaper rapportage

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/media-center/news/2116-aiti-kace-hosts-second-ghana-internet- governance-forum http://thebftonline.com/business/ict/15825/Gov%E2%80%99t-tackles-cybercrime-%E2%80%A6policy-to- be-laid-in-parliament.html

Government sets up Team to monitor cyber environment

Accra, Oct 29, GNA - Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Communications has hinted that the Ministry has setup the National Computer Emergency ...

http://www.ghananewsagency.org/science/ghana-must-adopt-internet- protocol-version-six-akumiah--96551

Appendix E – Photo gallery of the Event

DG of AITI -KACE Asking a question A panel duirng a session session

A section of the participants Papa Arkhurst chairing a session

The Convener during a Session Google Ghana Manager during a session

APPENDIX F - List of Participants at Ghana IGF 2015

SUR+E2NAME OTHER NAME SEX ORGANISATION POSITION SECTOR Abudey SELORM Jerome MALE ACA Ocloo WIlson MALE Ocloo Wilson Reseach Assistant ACA Natchiah-Blay Adea FEMALE University of Ghana, legon Student ACA anaba abangah Mohammed MALE GIMPA electrician technician ACA Asunka Stephen MALE GTUC, Director, Centre for Online Learning ACA Golo Hagan Dennis MALE AIT Lecturer ACA Awanya Bright MALE University of Ghana Senior Staff (IT) ACA Fugar Joshua Asiwome MALE UG Computing Systems IT Project Officer ACA LARTEY KELVIN MALE Oyoko Methodist School ICT TEACHER ACA Arthur Samuel MALE GTUC ACA Otieku - Boadu Richard UG, CHS ICT assistant ACA Kumah Gerald MALE SIIMT Student ACA Allotey Gilbert Nii Adotey MALE Siimt Student ACA Tay Blessing FEMALE Uhas Administrative assistant ACA Mensah Daniel, Kofi MALE University of Ghana Student ACA Ankrah Evans MALE University of Ghana Facilitator ACA Uni.of Energy and Natural Adekoya Adebayo Felix MALE Resources, Professor & Head of Department ACA GYIMAH SETH ADJEI MALE University of Ghana FIELD ENGINEER ACA Antwi Kwaku MALE GIMPA PHD Researcher ACA Uni.of Energy and Natural APPIAHENE PETER MALE Resources, LECTURER ACA Yusif Amadu MALE University of Ghana ACA Amezi James Anani MALE Central University College Asst. Director (IT) ACA Danquah Matthew MALE University of Ghana Poicy & Planning Analyst ACA Ansah Shadrack Mensah Male GES Teacher ACA Amankwah Asare Nketia MALE ICT Teachers Forum President ACA Ametozion William MALE University of Ghana Security Analyst ACA Degadjor MacJordan MALE Africa New Media COO ACA Brown Peter MALE Ghana Education Service Central Regional ICT Coordinator ACA AbandohSam Joseph Ahor MALE Valley View University Lecturer ACA Nkrumah Sampson MALE GTUC Course representative ACA Quist-Aphetsi Kester MALE Ghana Technology University Lecturer ACA Asare-Odei Kofi MALE University of Ghana ACA Appiah Joel MALE Central University System Admin ACA Barden Kofi Nuamah MALE AITI-KACE Systems Administrator ACA systems Administrator - service Barden Kofi Nuamah MALE AITI-KACE personnel ACA Nkrumah Sampson GTUC Course representative ACA Takyi Enoch MALE GHIPSS Card Services Officer FIN Agbessitse Mensah Komla Male AfDB ICT Officer FIN Mintah Therson Male Express Savings & Loans Ag Head, IT FIN DANSO SOLOMON MALE Ghana Tourism Authority Ass. Network Admin GOV Apanka Jonathan MALE GOV MENSAH MICHAEL GOV atiemo seth wiafe MALE GOV Kyei Baffour Elgin MALE Ghana highways Authority Junior staff GOV Kariyama Raphael Azare MALE Ministry of the Interior Head, IT GOV ADAFIENU PATRICIA FEMALE CERT-GH CYBER SECURITY ANALYST GOV Gidisu Gibson Graham MALE NITA, CERT-GH GOV Wiredu Spilker MALE CERT-GH Cyber Security Analyst GOV Aborah - Boateng Serwaa Eunice FEMALE NITA National Servic GOV Yeboah Derrick Male NITA GOV Akumiah Eric MALE NITA Director GOV ANKRAH PRINCE MALE NCA PRINCIPAL MANAGER, IT GOV Hoetu Ivy FEMALE NCA Engineering Officer GOV Nelson Herbert Napoleon MALE GNFS HQ OICICT GOV Aazore Fred Kwadwo MALE ISOC KNUSTCaucus, President GOV Baiden Francis Ephraim MALE Judicial Service Deputy Director of ICT/eJustice GOV Sowah Evans Adjetey MALE NITA IP/MPLS Service Manager GOV Aptech Computer Education - Owusu Kwasi MALE Ghana Head of Academics GOV Frimpong - Manso Seth MALE Public Services Commission IT Officer GOV Ibrahim National Society of Black Iddrisu Fareed MALE Engineers Membership Chair NGO Degbato Andy NGO AHIABU HOLY KOFI MALE SMILE CHILD FOUNDATION ICT COORDINATOR NGO Amable Philip Kwabla MALE Smile Child Foundation Teacher NGO Quartey Linda Naa Oyoo FEMALE One Baobab Managing Partner NGO ODONKOR DANIEL NII ADOM MALE EAGLE FOUNDATION CEO NGO Sarfo Twumasi Bernard Male NGO assan kofi akwa Male NGO Amaning Francis Acquah MALE Ghana Internet Registry System Administrator NGO Issah Vanessa FEMALE GIR Network Security Admin NGO Dega Billy James MALE NSBE Ghana Director of Programmes NGO Adzamli Kofi James MALE ISOC Ghana Financial Controller NGO Nartey Felix MALE ISOC Ghana Chapter Member NGO Vitalis Unji UNJI MALE NGO Ahadzi Joseph MALE Ghana Chamber of Commerce Administration Assistant PRIV. SEC Awalenga Bismark MALE PRIV. SEC Komladza Wonder MALE Gestalt Organization Consulting Business Analyst Officer PRIV. SEC Owusu Morrison Edward MALE MP-Infrastructure Company 4G Radio Access Network Engineer PRIV. SEC Asuman-Adu Akosua FEMALE TKF CEO PRIV. SEC Asomaning Kwame Richard MALE Surfline Communication Ltd IT Security PRIV. SEC Otchere Rebecca FEMALE RackAfrica Corporate Sales PRIV. SEC Dey Thomas MALE RackAfrica Corporate Sales PRIV. SEC Nelson Abiana FEMALE RackAfrica Sales Admin PRIV. SEC Ecklu John MindStrom Media Productio Network Administrator PRIV. SEC Scott Edem MALE RackAfrica Head of Sales PRIV. SEC Dorimonaah Maxwell MALE RackAfrica Corporate Sales PRIV. SEC Mensah Emmanuel MALE RackAfrica Head of Sales and Marketing PRIV. SEC Yawlui Dormenyo FEMALE RackAfrica International sales PRIV. SEC Sharma Rajnish MALE RackAfrica CEO PRIV. SEC MILLS LESLIE MALE SALES AND MARKETING PRIV. SEC Paul Baah - Amoako MALE Simplify - IT PRIV. SEC SNR. ENTERPRISE SALES ACCOUNT ATTAH MAWULI MALE IS INTERNET SOLUTIONS GH. LTD MANAGER PRIV. SEC SNR. ENTERPRISE SALES ACCOUNT ATTAH MAWULI MALE IS INTERNET SOLUTIONS GH. LTD MANAGER PRIV. SEC Acquaisie Mark Antwi MALE ShellShield Company limited CEO PRIV. SEC Tagoe Derrick MALE MobileWorld Magazine Content Manager PRIV. SEC TAY - AGBOZO REGINALD SHINE MALE OPEN FIELD INVESTMENT CEO PRIV. SEC Bossoh Godfred MALE Coca Cola Gh Ltd Business Process Analyst PRIV. SEC Asare Emmanuel MALE Origgin Ltd PRIV. SEC Kuphe Caleb kwabena ayitey MALE ICT Today Services Network Technician PRIV. SEC

Tevi-Lacle Tete Daya MALE Ghpulse.com online Media Cordinator PRIV. SEC Akpeloo Tsonam Cleanse MALE Techcom Visions ltd CEO PRIV. SEC Ayandoo John MALE It Pays Enterprise CEO PRIV. SEC Tagoe samuel Armah MALE Big ideaz consult ltd I.T Manager PRIV. SEC Fouillard Maurice MALE Internet Solutions Ghana Network Engineer PRIV. SEC Aboubacar Almoustapha MALE IT Consultant CEO PRIV. SEC Senior Telecom Systems Engineer, Sowah Stephen Nii Adjei MALE AMDOCS Consultant PRIV. SEC Kwao - Agboado Chanik MALE MegaSoft CEO PRIV. SEC Biney Jennifer Female Surfline Contract Specialist PRIV. SEC Madjri Quam M. Male Broadband Home Ltd. Network Engineer PRIV. SEC Amaning Richard Male Broadband Home Ltd Support Engineer PRIV. SEC Aidoo Darkwa Obeng Yaw MALE AlisaHotels Maintenance coordinator PRIV. SEC Ackah-Blay Daniel MALE Josren Ventures CompanyLtd IT Officer PRIV. SEC Addo Ofosu MALE Arriw Network Systems Network Engineer PRIV. SEC Anum Henry Ofoli MALE GITechnologies Managing Director PRIV. SEC senior manager, technical customer oti stephen MALE broadband home ltd service PRIV. SEC Agbata Prince MALE IDEA Africa Chief Technical Officer PRIV. SEC Ahiaku Cephas Kwashie MALE Real Intel Limited Director PRIV. SEC Affram Nana Yaw MALE Algorithm Ltd Network Administrator PRIV. SEC Agboado Jahlom Precious MALE Rappts CEO PRIV. SEC Andrew Christian MALE Judicial Service Data Analyst PRIV. SEC Afful Edward MALE Onebig Systems System Analyst PRIV. SEC Gambase A. Moses MALE TEWU of TUC GH industrial relation officer TRADE UNION

Appendix G – Report on Proceedings at Ghana IGF 2015

______REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS AT THE GHANA IGF 2015 ______

28 October, 2016

December 2015

Contents

BACKGROUND ...... 23

OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM ...... 24

SETTING THE AGENDA SESSION ...... 27

YOUTH IGF SESSION ...... 29

CYBER SECURITY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME SESSION ...... 30

AFFORDABLE INTERNET SESSION ...... 31

OPEN AND SAFE INTERNET SESSION ...... 32

CRITICAL INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES SESSION ...... 33

BUILDING A ROBUST REN FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT SESSION ...... 34

CREATING LOCAL CONTENT SESSION ...... 35

CLOSING SESSION ...... 36

COMMUNIQUE FROM GHANA IGF 2015 ...... 37

BACKGROUND

The 2015 Ghana Internet Governance Forum (Ghana IGF) was organized at the Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in IT in Accra, Ghana on the 28 th October, 2015. The theme of the forum was “Ensuring Freedom, Security and Growth in our Digital World”.

The Forum brought together stakeholders from the Internet Ecosystem to speak to issues pertaining to governance in Cyber security, affordability of the Internet, Internet safety, Critical Internet Infrastructure, creation of Local content and to discuss topics such as building a robust Research and Education Network for Accelerated Development.

OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM

The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Mr. Issah Yahaya, Chief Director at the Ministry of Communications. He stated that it is imperative to heighten youth participation in Internet Governance for the reason that, the youth are the leaders of ICT today.

He noted that, the discussion and outcome of the 2015 Forum will be presented at the upcoming Brazil Convention and could also be included in the Ghana IT compendium.

The Convener of the Forum, Prof. Nii Quaynor in his welcome address stressed the importance of the youth involvement in IG, and cautioned that the Internet Governance objectives should be well balanced to avoid skewing towards privacy, security ora particular element of the Internet.

Keynote

Mr. Issah Yahaya read the Keynote Address with the following highlights on behalf of the Minister of Communication, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah:

• The 2015 Ghana IGF is very timely as the UN General Assembly will review and implement the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2015 during its 70 th Session

• All stakeholders should be committed to building an inclusive and development-oriented Information Society to enable individuals create, utilize and share information and knowledge to achieve their full potential

• To work together to improve access to ICT infrastructure, to build capacity, increase confidence and security in the use of ICT and to encourage global cooperation among others • Ghana has made significant strides in the area of ICT through mobile data penetration, submarine cable network, fibre cable rollouts to improve connectivity and so forth

• Commended the CERT-GH,Internet Society, NITA, NCA for supporting the Forum to find solutions to address challenges of the industry

Opening remarks by Key Stakeholders

Ghana IXP Director- Alex Sulzberger

• Showed appreciation of the presence of Internet in Ghana since 1995 and also mentioned that private people did well by introducing Internet in Ghana. He spoke about the work of GIXP and indicated that the organization offers valuable services to end-users

National Communication Authority Director General - William Tevie

• The role of NCA, licensing of companies and also introducing new frequencies to increase penetration of internet services

• The importance of the 2015 Forum to create a platform for exchange of ideas and to create awareness of the trends in the Internet ecosystem

National IT Agency Ag. Director General - George Atta-Boateng

• Government has equipped NITA tremendously to have effective engagements with IT professionals and to provide appropriate licenses and to exposed the citizenry to efficient use of the Internet.

AITI-KACE Director General - Dorothy Gordon • Africa is a late comer in the Internet world and we are not having the benefits of the Internet. Internet is new gold, the data gold however, most people are not aware of what pertains in the Internet ecosystem.

• She urged all and sundry to have the momentum to spread the message from the Forum.

ISOC Ghana President - Marcus Adomey

• The Society engages stakeholders in quarterly interactions to discuss issues affecting the Internet and to explore ways to improve governance of the Internet.

Ghanaian Academic and Research Network Ag. CEO – Ben Eshun

• GarNET builds high speed network within the academic community for superior collaborations and innovations in research and other academic endeavors

SETTING THE AGENDA SESSION

Session Chair: Professor Nii Quaynor, Ghana IGF Convener Panelist: Awo Aidam Amanyah, Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Albert Antwi-Bosiako, Eric Akumiah

The panel members of this session discussed the key issues in Ghana on Internet Governance with respect to the theme. The Chair made the following remarks:

The Forum is non-binding meaning it is not a decision making Forum but a platform for information and knowledge sharing as well as for exchange of ideas.

The following comments was attributed to the speakers on the panel:

Awo Aidam Amenyah , Executive Director of J-Initiative:

• Children safety within the Cyberspace is a collective response

• There is the need for engagement and research to address issues about some websites advertising unwholesome content to children, cyber bullying and sexual abuse

• Importance of counselling sessions for abused children

Kenneth Adu-Amafoh, Head of IT, NCA :

• The Internet is open for most activities such as business, freedom of speech, education etc

• The Internet is not regulated therefore it is imperative to ensure its security for accessibility and safety

• It is the responsibility of government, civil society organizations and all stakeholders to be vigilant about fraudsters and malicious activities on the Internet.

Albert Antwi-Bosiako, Founder and CEO, eCrime Bureau : • Cyber criminality has taken an advanced form by moving from psychological inducements to technical applications of the use of viruses and other advanced schemes and that call for building collaborative capacity to deal with cybercrime to ensure cyber security

Mr. Eric Akumiah, Head,CERT-GH :

• There are various networks coming together for malicious activities as cyber fraud has become very lucrative venture. However, with collective efforts and collaborative mechanisms between government and the private sector there will be solutions for attaining safe cyber space

YOUTH IGF SESSION

Session Chair: James Billy Dega, President National Society of Black Engineers

Panelist: Wisdom Donkor , Linux Club, James Adzamli, ISOC Ghana, Dora Mawutor, Media Foundation for West Africa, Caucus President, KNUST ISOC Ghana

The youth IGF created a platform for the youth to deliberate on how the youth could participate effectively in Internet Governance (IG).

Yaovi Atohoun of ICANN made a presentation on Africa DNS Entrepreneurship Program and highlighted the following:

• High Level overview of ICANN including establishment, management and operation of ICANN

• The 2 main objectives that ICANN seeks to achieve are; to transform the DNS and Internet Industry in Africa and to promote awareness and meaningful participation in ICANN.

• DNS Entrepreneurship program and the ICANN Fellowship program

• There are incubation centres for the youth and there is the ICANN Next Generation program for the youth to actively participate in the ICANN community.

Discussant and participants in the session agreed that there was need to engage more of the youth especially basic and second cycle pupils and students in future IGFs. Dorothy It was also agreed that there should be gender balance in future IGF and other IT-related meetings. There was a call to find avenues to enhance women participation in issues regarding the Internet.

CYBER SECURITY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME SESSION

Session Chair: Pro. Nii Quaynor, Ghana IGF Convener Panelist : Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh -NCA, Albert Antwi-Bosiako -eCrime, Kwabena Adu Boahene-Nat Security, Eric Akumiah CERT-GH

In this session the panel members made presentations that can be summarized as follows:

• There are existing policies, Acts, and laws within the cyber space which could warrant blacklisting of IPs of cyber criminals and fraudsters

• The policies border on effective governance, legislative and regulatory framework, research and development towards self-reliance, capacity building, cyber security technology framework among others

• To make our laws more resilient to avoid ambiguity in order to have clarity of the legal procedures to deal with culprits as cybercrimes are becoming more sophiscated

• Need to hasten implementation of the cyber security processes and build capacity to avert foreign infiltration

• There are daily changes in the Internet ecosystem therefore timelines are key with regards to e-laws

• All are affected by what happens elsewhere. It is a global village, there is the need for dialogue and collaborations

AFFORDABLE INTERNET SESSION

Session Chair: Dorothy Gordon, DG, AITI-KACE Panelist: Estelle Akrofi-Sowah, GOOGLE Ghana, Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa A4AI Ghana

The following presentations were made:

Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, Country Coordinator, A4AI

• Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), an Initiative of the Web Foundation, was inaugurated in 2014 for advocacy through multi-stakeholder consultation to champion Internet affordability.

• Many people do not see the need to invest in the Internet. There is an affordable wholesale network for broadband connection for activities such as video conferencing and research work

• Businesses are conducted online in rural China and that should be replicated in Ghana

• Online payments are hampered to a large extent there must be improvement in online monetary transactions.

OPEN AND SAFE INTERNET SESSION

Session Chair: Albert Antwi-Bosiako, eCrime Bureau

Panelist: Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, NCA, Awo Aidam Amenyah, J-Initiative, Kwabena Adu Boahene, National Security, Dora Mawutor Media Foundation for West Africa

The discussion focused on the following :

• Need to own and secure data

• Openness of Internet involves freedom of expression as we have in the physical world

• Flow of information is crucial

• Transparency is key

• Protection of privacy and confidentiality

• Access of Internet by all

• Openness is one of the principles of internet governance so there must be proper governance to manage three risks namely content or contact risk, consumer risk and security related risks

• Restrictions on children’s photos

• Children prohibited from going to some obscene sites

• Children to be taught to know how to protect themselves in the Cyberspace

• Need for digital literacy as what we put on the Internet will remain even if the information is deleted

CRITICAL INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES SESSION Chair: Papa Arkhurst, Director IT Ministry of Foreign Affairs Panelist: Eric Akumiah, NITA, Alex Sulzberger, GIXP, Archie Hesse, GhiPPs

A presentation on Critical Internet Infrastructure was made by Eric Akumiah, NITA:

• explained that the Internet runs on domain name, registry, IP Numbers resources, and exchange points and the registry manages the domain

• The need to adopt number system and migration plan for IPv6 as well as capacity building for Network operators.

• Like Ivory Coast, the registry project is working to have a copy of the root server in Ghana

Alex Sulzberger, GIXP

• The exchange points to be connected to the West African countries as a platform to enhance internet traffic

Archie Hesse, Ghana Inter Payment Platform (GhiPP)

• GHIPS is an arm of the central bank and is putting infrastructure together to connect all the banks electronically and to create an ecosystem for the use of an e-card called white card which is locally made to support businesses

• There is authentication of a white card holder to secure online transaction

BUILDING A ROBUST REN FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT SESSION

Chair: Dr. Narteh Siaw Sappor, Board Member, Ghana Post Panelist: Ben Eshun, Ag. CEO, GARNET, Dr. Godfred Frimpong, STEPPRI, CSIR

• Ghana Open Data Initiative is open to the public to empower citizens and for the government to improve on public services through e-services

• To bring stakeholders together for dialogue to forestall fibre theft and to address various concerns

• The need to have efficient and effective infrastructure and network to improve bandwidth to enhance research and development.

• Ghana REN creates avenues for research and development

• To ensure security, key loggers should be used

• Promotes linkages for knowledge sharing

CREATING LOCAL CONTENT SESSION Chair: Dr. Narteh Siaw Sappor Board Member, Ghana Post Panelist: Estelle Akrofi-Sowah, Google Ghana, Veronica Boateng NITA, Wisdom Donkor, GODI

• Government has established eservices.gov.gh as a portal to offer the opportunity to know about government services

• It offer relevant links and reduces bureaucracies involved in acquiring national documents for example passport, tax payments, marriage registration and others

• Opportunity to track applications to determine status

• Empowering the youth to use phones to develop simple apps for development

CL OSING SESSION

In his closing remarks, the Convener, Prof. Nii Quaynor reiterated that, the Forum is not for decision making purposes but to develop a community for dialogue to build capacity to safeguard Internet Governance and Cyber security.

He noted that, working groups will be electronically advertised for participants of the Forum to continue the engagement for the advancement of Internet Governance and security.

COMMUNIQUE FROM GHANA IGF 2015

At the end of the Forum participants agreed that the following concerns and recommendations could be incorporated into future IGF.

• Digital literacy should be heightened since the Internet is used by all, everyone should be involved in the creation of awareness and knowledge sharing • Need to employ avenues to have more women to participate in IT • Parents and guardians should be trained to teach the youth and children to positively use the Internet • Caution should be exercised to avoid skewing towards one element of Internet Governance • Government and all stakeholders must establish policies to ensure children safety within the Cyberspace • All stakeholders should be watchdog in detecting malicious activities on the Internet and effective cooperation and collaboration to keep our cyberspace safe. • The media should help to sensitize the public on issues pertaining to the Internet • Government should facilitate program for updating citizens on cyber security • Research, collaborations and partnerships should be encouraged by government facilitating the setting up of the GarNET. • There should be clarity of policies and e-laws to avoid ambiguity in the fight against cybercrime • Need for disaster recovery plan, measures, backups and safeguards to mitigate natural disasters and malicious attacks • Online payments should be enhanced to make it secure and safe • Need to empower those in the academic community through a Robust Research & Education Network (REN) for accelerated development • Ghana needs to replicate what is done in rural China by helping the rural folk in Ghana to use the Internet • Ghana needs to speed up the implementation of the the root server project to enhance Internet • Children and the youth should be encouraged to develop simple apps of economic significance • National Data Centre to provide service to all citizens and business who require its use

• Ghana to host ICANN Africa Road Show and DNS Entrepreneurship program in 2016