The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) – the body mandated to regulate cyber security activities and promote the development of cyber security in Ghana has barred Cyber security Service Providers (CSPs), Cyber security Establishments (CEs), and Cyber security Professionals (CPs) without a license or accreditation from operating in the country.
In a statement, the Authority said it follows the December 31, 2023, deadline to CSPs, CEs, and CPs to obtain a licence or accreditation to operate lawfully in the country.
The statement reads in part – “The Cyber Security Authority will fully enforce the provisions of the Cyber security Act, 2020 (Act 1038) regarding its mandate to regulate CSPs, CPs and CEs. Accordingly, CSPs, CEs and CPs who offer cyber security services without a licence or accreditation granted by the Authority, do so in contravention of Act 1038 and will face the full rigors of the Law including criminal prosecutions and administrative penalties where applicable”.
It added, “Institutions and individuals are consequently advised to engage only licensed CSPs and accredited CEs and CPs.”
READ STATEMENT BELOW:
DO NOT OPERATE IN GHANA IF YOU ARE NOT LICENCED OR ACCREDITED – CSA TELLS CYBERSECURITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, ESTABLISHMENTS AND PROFESSIONALS
(Accra, Ghana) – Effective January 1, 2024, Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs), and Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs) without a license or accreditation are barred from operating in Ghana.
This follows the December 31, 2023, deadline issued by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to CSPs, CEs, and CPs to obtain a licence or accreditation to operate lawfully in the country.
The CSA will fully enforce the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) regarding its mandate to regulate CSPs, CPs and CEs. Accordingly, CSPs, CEs and CPs who offer cybersecurity services without a licence or accreditation granted by the Authority, do so in contravention of Act 1038 and will face the full rigors of the Law including criminal prosecutions and administrative penalties where applicable. Institutions and individuals are consequently advised to engage only licensed CSPs and accredited CEs and CPs.
To ascertain whether an entity or individual has been granted a licence or accreditation, the certificate number of the entity or individual can be authenticated online at https://www.csa.gov.gh/licence. The Authority may also be contacted via email: compliance@csa.gov.gh or Telephone: 0531140408.
Ghana becomes the first country in Africa and second globally, after Singapore to have taken such a bold and giant step to develop the cybersecurity industry in this regard.
Issued by
Cyber Security Authority (CSA)
Impressive