The President, speaking at the opening of the National Cyber-Security Week, and the inauguration of the National Cyber-Security Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council on Monday, mentioned the training of all involved in the arrest and prosecution of criminals as high on his government’s agenda.

“Criminal justice response to cyber-crime is another area of importance. Training for our judges, prosecutors and investigators, especially on cyber-crime legislation and enforcement provisions, is a priority for government. We will enforce existing legislation as we seek to review and update it if necessary,” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bsCmajyQVW5VN86nkAV20uTLJBiEJG5P”]President Akufo-Addo, attributing the decision to the changing face of crime globally, also stated plans by the government to equip the country’s law enforcement agencies with state of the art ICT equipment to enable them tackle head-on, the growing canker.

“We also intend to improve the forensic capabilities of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), to enable officers to investigate and prosecute cyber-facilitated crimes.”

At the launch of the National Cyber-Security Week, the National Cyber Security Adviser, Albert Antwi-Boasiko, revealed to journalists at a media encounter that the document for the ratification of the Convention on Cyber-crime, also known as the Budapest Convention, would be completed by the end of the year.

According to him, the document for ratification was at Cabinet, awaiting approval, and is expected to be ratified by parliament by the end of 2017.

The National Cyber-Security Week, is on the theme: “Securing Ghana’s Digital Journey” and is expected to create a platform for cyber security vendors and service providers to showcase their services to the public at the Accra International Conference Centre and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence.

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By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the President, the national identification system, the digital addressing system, e-payments, digital financial services as well as the various e-government initiatives being initiated by the government, could be adversely affected by cyber crime, hence the need for such a centre.

“Ghana cannot fully reap the digital dividends, associated with her adoption of ICT as a means of our socio-economic transformation, if the country fails to mitigate both existing and emerging cyber security threats,” he explained.

President Akufo-Addo made this known today [Monday], at the opening of the National Cyber-Security Week, and the inauguration of the National Cyber-Security Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council, at the Accra International Conference Centre, in Accra.

He told the gathering that his government is undertaking specific policy and practical intervention initiatives, including capacity building, international co-operation, judicial enforcement of cyber-crime laws, and implementation of technical standards and safeguards to combat the scourge.

It is for this reason, the President noted that, in July this year, he requested the Minister for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP, to oversee the implementation of Ghana’s National Cyber Security Policy & Strategy (NCSPS).

“This has led to our adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach, as a foundation for the effective implementation of the various cyber security activities and programmes. The National Cyber Security Technical Working Group (NCSTWG) and the National Cyber Security Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council (NCSIAC), would be the critical drivers of our effort,” he said.

The President also said his government has partnered with the United States government, through the Security Governance Initiative (SGI), and the European Union, through their GLACY project, to boost Ghana’s efforts at addressing cyber security challenges.

“We will also engage with international institutions and technology partners, such as International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Google, Facebook and Microsoft, to ensure cyber safety for our citizens, especially children,” he added.

Criminal justice response to cyber-crime is another area of importance, and to this end, training for our judges, prosecutors and investigators, especially on cyber-crime laws and enforcement provisions, is a priority for government.”

Government, he assured, will enforce existing legislation, as it works to review and update it, if necessary, and will empower the Data Protection Commission to ensure enforcement of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843).

“We also intend to improve the forensic capabilities of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and other law enforcement agencies, including the Economic & Organized Crimes Office (EOCO), to enable officers to investigate and prosecute cyber-facilitated crimes,” the President added.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the NPA, some fuel stations across the country are still hoarding petroleum products because there are  reports of an imminent increase in fuel prices.

An expected hike of about 20 percent in the price of fuel was widely expected on July 1, 2014.

However, in an interview with Citi News, the PRO of the National Petroleum Authority, Yaro Kasambata, revealed that the NPA has suspended the decision to increase fuel prices.

Reports say some fuel stations are hoarding the product, so as to benefit from any increase in the prices.

The situation has reportedly left some Ghanaians still queuing up for fuel in some parts of the country.

Mr. Kasambata said a team had been dispatched to investigate and any station found to be hoarding fuel would be sanctioned.

He added that he expected the situation to improve by Wednesday.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Head of Communications, at the Ministry.

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has agreed with the public concerns on the high cost of the premises recently rented by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) as offices.

According to the Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, ‘’if the NPA ‘s  office was rented at $63,000 per month as has been reported, then that hardly represents prudent use of state resources, no matter how conducive or appropriate the facility is for their operations.’’

‘’The Minister would be demanding from the Board and management of the NPA an explanation for such a decision, especially the consideration that went into a decision that runs at variance with philosophy and preferences of His Excellency the President as far as the use of public funds concerned,’’ Mr. Buah stated.

The public is assured that the Ministry will do everything possible to get to the bottom of this matter.

Credit: Energy Ministry

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According to him pricing of petroleum prices is out of the control of the politician. ‘’Is high time we all accept some few things, pricing is out of control of the politician; please if you can’t do it, don’t talk about it,’’ he said.

This comes on the back of a warning from the chamber of an imminent shortage of petroleum products in Ghana due to government’s failure to pay  the about GHC1.5 billion it owes the chamber .

According to the BDCs, they will soon not be able to supply petroleum products due to government’s inability to pay the bulk oil distribution companies (BDCs) from subsidies.

Speaking on Citi FM‘s news analysis and political programme, The Big Issue, Mr. Hosi warned that Ghana has ”less than a week” of fuel in store.

”We have less than a week now; I am pretty sure early next week we should be seeing no petrol here and there…,” he said.

He further stated that government cannot continue to subsidize for petroleum products when it does not have the money for it. ”You can’t come saying that you want to subsidize when you don’t have the funds for it; you don’t order what you can’t pay for,” he added.

Mr. Hosi advised government to stay out of the business of subsidizing or pricing and charge the right prices for fuel.

”The way to sort this thing out is to make sure we don’t keep bleeding; government should please stay out of pricing and charge the right thing so that people can have the product,” he noted.

The CEO of the chamber called for all the full implementation of the automatic adjustment without interference.

“It is important that as politicians, as a people we are honest about petrol pricing. No politician has control over petrol pricing. Those days are over,” he added.

‘’The subsidy is not sustainable; government hasn’t got the capacity, hasn’t got the fund for it,’’ he said.

He revealed that banks have denied them [BDCs] lines of credit because of the rising debt level.

Fuel prices were maintained after the national petroleum authority reviewed them on Monday.

The Bulk Distribution Companies (BDC’s) are a function of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) whose primary mandate is to wholesale petroleum products and also to import finished products to augment finished output.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @effsevans

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The Minority alleged that the Bui Power Authority had been allowed by government to spend 3 million dollars on a Golf Park and other recreational facilities for top management of the Brong Ahafo-based power producer.

But speaking exclusively to Citi News’ Richard Dela Sky, Dr. Kwabena Donkor said, although he would not speak to the figures quoted by the Minority, he sees nothing wrong with building recreational facilities for staff of the power producer.

”To attack the calibre of engineers and critical support staff to a location such as Bui you are going to have to create facilities to keep them settled in…,” he said.

Dr. Donkor noted that it is imperative that these facilities are built to enable the Authority ”attract and retain critical” staff.

He explained that in Ghanaians allow pettiness to cloud their judgement. According to him the fact that Bui Power is not producing the amount of power needed doesn’t mean they should not have health facilities, recreational facilities and the basic amenities that will make life comfortable for the staff.

”How many of them [Minority] will want to go and stay at Bui if they don’t have health facilities, Schools, recreational facilities…?” he questioned.

Touching on the amount of money the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) spent on rent for an office accomodation, Dr. Donkor advised that the NPA should purchase their own office.

”I will prefer they [ NPA] buy a property out right…,” he said.

He further stated that instead of  publishing figures stating how much  institutions are spending, Ghanaians should rather find out why and challenge them on the issues.

The NPP also alleged that the NPA spends $63,000 monthly as rent for offices at the East Legon residential area.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Minority in Parliament at a press conference on Thursday accused the NPA of spending about $63,000 a month as rent for its facility at East Legon.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Spokesperson for the NPA, Yaro Kasambata justified the amount, describing it as “necessary and urgent.”

He explained the NPA relocated from Cantonments to East Legon because it had the security and safety of its employees at heart.

“If you had friends who have worked at the NPA, they would tell you that they could see that the [former NPA] building was developing cracks,” Mr. Kasambata added.

According to him, the former NPA building which was originally designed to accommodate a maximum number of 16 people was after a period of time overburdened to accommodate over 200 employees of the Authority, thus contributing the problem.

He revealed that the Authority as a means of cutting down cost, intends to sublet a section of its present facility to another tenant in order to recoup its money.

“The present location is equally a four-storey building but the space is bigger, it can accommodate the current staff of the Authority which is a little over 200.We can still have some space available and the plan by management is to sublet that extra space to another tenant so that we can recoup some of our money,” Mr. Kasambata explained.

Mr. Kasambata pointed out that the NPA will not have to pay $63,000 for accommodation after the NPA sublets the facility.

Asked whether the amount of money spent on the NPA’s accommodation was a prudent use of resources, Mr. Kasambata responded that “it was a reasonable decision.”

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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