1,400 individuals and businesses across the country have submitted applications for licenses and accreditation from the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) since the initiation of the cyber-security regulatory framework in March 2023, the CSA has disclosed.
As of February 19, 2024, the CSA has registered a total of 1,137 cyber-security professionals (CPS), 194 cyber-security service providers (CSPS), and 52 cyber-security establishments (CES), amounting to 1,383 in total.
This can be attributed in part to the government’s recent measure that prohibited Cybersecurity Service Providers, Cybersecurity Establishments, and Cybersecurity Professionals without proper licensing or accreditation from operating within the country and a December 31, 2023 deadline set by the CSA for obtaining licenses or accreditation.
While some applicants have received provisional licenses awaiting the issuance of final licenses, many others are progressing through various stages of the licensing and accreditation procedure, the CSA stated in a communication shared with the B&FT.
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The CSA reiterated its commitment to enforcing the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which mandates the regulation of CSPs, CEs, and CPs. Entities operating without the required licenses or accreditation will face legal consequences, including administrative penalties and criminal prosecutions.
In a bid to support qualifying CSPs, CEs, and CPs encountering challenges in completing the online application process, a licensing and accreditation clinic has been established at the CSA premises in Accra. This clinic, operational since February 8, 2024, operates every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Furthermore, collaborations between the CSA and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) aim to ensure that public sector institutions seeking cyber-security services adhere to the regulations stipulated under Act 1038, engaging only licensed and accredited CSPs, CEs, and CPs.
Additionally, the CSA is also working closely with the Judicial Service of Ghana to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) in legal matters, requiring that CSPs, CEs, and CPs testifying in court are duly licensed and/or accredited.
Businesses and individuals looking to engage CSPs, CEs, and CPs are advised to verify the licensing or accreditation status of entities or individuals online through the CSA’s website to ensure compliance with the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) and to maintain safety in the digital space.
