According to her, enough measures have been put in place to prevent any external intrusion or hacking.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VfWPG9bVAtl0qLDS7u7eK5w1Kk9GpjMJ”]Speaking to claims by some tech analysts that the data of Ghanaians fed into the system could fall in the hands of hackers, Communications Minister; Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said appropriate measures that come with the app make it almost impossible to hack.

“The proper firewalls and security features are being built into the system prior to it going live to protect against the very things that we all fear happening. I don’t know what someone else is doing to try to breach the defenses that are currently being built – they say the criminals are always one step ahead of us – but the knowledge on cyber security defenses currently available today, wherever it is in the world are what we are employing in the system we are deploying.”

Background

President Akufo-Addo about two weeks ago, launched the National Digital Property Addressing System, also known as the Ghana Post GPS in Accra, aimed at providing an effective means of addressing every location and place in the country, using an information technology application.

The app, which government said cost the country $2.5 million, has been criticized by some experts in the technology space as well as some civil society organisations.

For instance, President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, described the system as amateurish and not new.

He also questioned the security risk to the data received by the system.

“I’ve read quite a number of reviews by industry watchers, and some of the comments they’ve made are not necessarily helpful – to think that you could input just any data and generate an address in itself sounds amateurish. There are basic web portals where you input any kind of data it could reject it, especially when you are filling forms. And to hear that obviously, that it is something with this app is quite troubling,” Franklin Cudjoe added.

Speaking at a press briefing to update Ghanaians on the level of security surrounding the software, the Minister urged people to disregard what she terms jargons being thrown about to scare citizens.

“…Those out there are raising concerns about what could possibly happen, we also want to assure them that we are mindful of those dangers and are taking steps to prevent those incidents from occurring here. No system is completely foolproof, but as far as the current knowledge goes, we are procuring the very best to protect our digital architecture,” Ursala added.

Ghana to pay Google $400,000 yearly

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Ghana is to pay tech giant, Google, an amount of $400,000 every year for embedding the company’s online map into the country’s newly designed National Digital Property Addressing System.

This was revealed by the Managing Director of Ghana Post, James Kwofie on Friday, at the press conference.

“In terms of the cost, what is being paid for is the back-end solution, data analytics, hardware i.e. the firewalls and servers, Google license, marketing and publicity as well as technical support, and GHc1.7 million VAT which goes back to the government. Contrary to popular believe, Google charges when you use their systems for local purposes or commercial activities. The Google license fee at the moment is $400,000 per year – that is the enterprise package,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey & Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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They are the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, and the National Women’s Organizer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba.

Ursula Owusu was nominated as a nominee for the Communications Minister position,  whereas Otiko Afisa Djaba has been earmarked for the Gender and Social Protection Ministry.

Their nomination follows the announcement of the first batch of 13 people constituting three females; Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Hajia Alima Mahama and Gloria Akuffo, and ten other males to fill various ministerial positions pending parliamentary approval.

Profiles of Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Otiko Afisa Djaba

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is a lawyer, women’s right activist, and a parliamentarian representing Ablekuma West constituency. Ursula was born on 20 October 1964. She hails from Akim Oda in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful attended Labone Senior High School and proceeded to Mfantisman Girls Secondary School to have her sixth form education. She furthered her education in University of Ghana where she obtained an LLB.

Otiko Afisa Djaba was born on January 21 , 1962. She is a Ghanaian politician who is the National Women’s Organizer for the New Patriotic Party.

Otiko was born to Henry Kojo Djaba and Rosalind Sheita Bawa at Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana. She is the second of twenty-one siblings.

She attended Tamale Secondary School, now Tamale Senior High School. She holds a diploma in Communications and marketing from an institution in the United Kingdom.

She has also had training as a Computer Systems Analyst from a college in the United Kingdom.

Other personalities who were named in the second batch of nominees were Samuel Atta Kyea, Minister nominee for Works and Housing.

Below is the list

1.Dr Akoto Osei- Monitoring and Evaluation
2.Dan Botwe – Regional Reorganisation and Special Projects
3.John Peter Amewu – Lands and Forestry
4.Otiko Afisa Djaba- Gender and Social Protection
5.Ignatius Baffour Awuah – Employment and Labour Relations
6.Kwaku Ofori Asiamah -Transport
7.Joe Ghartey-Railways Development
8.Kwesi Amoako Atta – Roads and Highways
9.Ursula Owusu – Communications
10. Kofi Adda – Water Resources and Sanitation
11. Samuel Atta Akyea-Works and Housing
12. Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng – Environment, Science and Technology

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By: Marian Ansah with files from wikipedia/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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United converted all of their kicks in the shoot-out, Darren Fletcher slamming home the winner after Marco Andreolli had hit the crossbar.

Having beaten Roma last week, United have one foot in the final of the Champions Cup, where they could face Manchester City.

United’s new signing Luke Shaw, who van Gaal had described as unfit on the eve of the game, came on to play wing-back for the second half, while Wilfried Zaha, who showed plenty of promise on his first appearance of the tour, was introduced to play up front.

Former United stalwart Nemanja Vidic was in the Inter line-up and made a key challenge on Zaha before he was substituted with 18 minutes left.

Van Gaal’s men were sporting their new blue kit for the first time but, although they passed the ball around nicely before the break, they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Phil Jones went closest, drawing a good save from Samir Handanovic with a header from a corner, while Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney were off target with shots from distance.

The Manchester United boss made eight changes at the break and his team began to look more dangerous.

Tom Cleverley volleyed over the bar and Juan Pablo Carrizo then denied Nani from close range, before Shinji Kagawa was thwarted by Danilo D’Ambrosio when he tried to turn in the rebound.

United then had a pair of penalty shouts turned down by ref Edvin Juisevuic in quick succession, as Zaha and Cleverley went down in the box.

Inter were kept fairly quiet throughout but David de Gea had to make a good late save from a Fredy Guarin free-kick.

And Zaha almost won it for United in the final minute, shooting into the side netting after a mazy run into the box.

That meant penalties and both sides converted their spot-kicks with aplomb until Andreolli’s miss, Fletcher, Ashley Young, Javier Hernandez, Cleverley and Kagawa on target for United.

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Source: Sky Sports

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With the exception of veteran Mark Schwarzer in goal, Jose Mourinho fielded a young starting XI for the friendly, with midfielder Marco Van Ginkel back in the side after missing most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Patrick Bamford – making his first senior appearance for the Blues – broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when he expertly steered Nathan Ake’s hooked cross past Matt Ingram.

An injury to Todd Kane midway through the half gave Chelsea fans a first glimpse of Kurt Zouma, who signed in January but was loaned back to Saint-Etienne for the remainder of the season.

Mourinho made eight changes to his side for the second half, introducing Terry and Ivanovic at the back.

On as a half-time substitute, Izzy Brown doubled Chelsea’s lead on 48 minutes when he latched onto Jay Dasilva’s pinpoint cutback to smash the ball beyond Ingram.

Terry steered home a third from Jeremie Boga’s corner four minutes later, while Ivanovic made it four when he headed in another Boga delivery on 67 minutes.

Wycombe were already well beaten but Brown added another layer of gloss to the scoreline when he curled into the top corner after a neat passing interchange with three minutes remaining.

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Source: Goal.com

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Substitute Hasani had already served warning of his goal threat with a superb free-kick that crashed against Brad Jones’ crossbar.

And the Macedonia international’s slaloming run and classy finish in the 91st minute ultimately proved the difference at Brondby Stadion.

Liverpool vice-captain and Denmark skipper Daniel Agger was the main focus of attention before the game upon his return to his first club, but Philippe Coutinho and Jordon Ibe shone brightest for the Premier League outfit on the pitch.

Despite Brondby’s superior match sharpness – this was the Danes’ fourth pre-season game – it was Liverpool who started the better, with Coutinho a constant menace.

However, a superb 20-yard effort from Christian Norgaard gave the hosts the lead in the 23rd minute, shortly after Liverpool youngster Tiago Ilori had limped off injured.

Brondby keeper Lucas Hradecky then made fine saves from Coutinho, Brad Smith and Lucas Leiva, but a searing run down the left from teenager Ibe – brought on at half-time – led to Kristoffer Peterson equalising from close range.

Riza Durmisi and Hasani both hit the woodwork with free-kicks as the home side unsurprisingly finished the stronger, yet the latter was not to be denied in stoppage time as he fired home to earn Brondby the win.

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Source: Goal.com

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