The Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation, Hon. Sam George, on the floor of Parliament, has addressed critical issues related to cybersecurity, misinformation, and tax collection using technology in Ghana.
His remarks were tabled in response to statements made by Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, which tackled different aspects of technology’s role in governance.
Hon. Sam George acknowledged the relevance of both statements while making key clarifications and policy recommendations to enhance Ghana’s digital landscape. He also took the opportunity to emphasize the urgent need for legislation to combat misinformation and improve digital security frameworks.
Hon. Sam George began his address by correcting an inaccuracy in Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ statement, where she wrongly referenced the Bureau for National Communications (BNC). He clarified that Parliament had amended the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, replacing the BNC with the National Signals Bureau.
The Minister highlighted the widespread problem of online impersonation, stressing that nearly every Member of Parliament (MP) has been a victim. He revealed that earlier before Wednesday’s Parliamentary proceedings, he had dealt with a case where someone was impersonating him and offering fraudulent immigration jobs. He issued a strong public warning;
“No Member of Parliament or Minister of State will reach out to you on social media to offer you a job. Any such approach is a scam.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
To this effect, he called for intensified public sensitization to address this issue, leveraging the media to spread awareness.
Strengthening Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation
Hon. Sam George further acknowledged that many digital platforms are owned by multinational corporations, particularly Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. He explained that he had previously engaged with Meta’s focal persons for Africa and West Africa and managed to have 25 fake accounts removed within 24 hours. However, he lamented;
“Facebook takes it down, you complain, and a new one is put up. Even when you have a verified account, Facebook often refuses to take down impersonation accounts.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
To combat this, he emphasized the need for Ghana to lead efforts at the ECOWAS and African Union levels to establish a continental data protection framework, similar to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). He stated;
“It is one thing for Ghana as a country to speak to Meta as a multinational, but it is a different thing when Africa speaks with a collective voice.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
The Minister stressed the importance of capacity building for law enforcement and the judiciary. He pointed out that while arrests have been made in cyber-related crimes, securing convictions has been challenging due to a lack of expertise among judges.
He cited the Cybersecurity Act, Act 1038, passed in 2020, which includes provisions for digital evidence preservation. However, he noted;
“Even our law enforcement officers need training. We need to ensure that digital evidence collected during investigations is properly preserved and presented in court.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
Hon. Sam George outlined plans for a more robust SIM re-registration system, coupled with a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). He explained;
“If you have a Central Equipment Identity Register, and it is locked with the SIM card when you block the SIM, you also block the device. This makes it much harder for fraudsters to operate. Once we block the SIM, we also block the Ghana Card linked to that registration. This means the person cannot register a new SIM on any network.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
Cautious Approach to IMSI Technology Deployment
Responding to Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ suggestion to acquire an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catcher vehicle for the Ghana Police Service, Hon. Sam George expressed caution.
He acknowledged concerns about how such technology could be misused if placed solely under the control of law enforcement agencies. Instead, he recommended that the Cyber Security Authority, a civilian institution, take charge of it.
The Minister announced plans to introduce legislation in Parliament to tackle misinformation and disinformation. He pointed out recent incidents where false information had influenced parliamentary proceedings.
He cited the case of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who was summoned by the Appointments Committee based on doctored social media posts, as well as a misleading digitally altered photo presented by Hon. Abu Jinapor. He added;
“Even in this chamber, we have carried out business on two occasions based on misinformation. It is important that we take misinformation and disinformation seriously and deal with it once and for all.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
He urged MPs to support upcoming legislation to ensure that those who spread falsehoods face the full rigors of the law. Hon. Sam George revealed that the new government had inherited a significant financial liability from the previous administration concerning the Cyber Security Authority’s infrastructure. He revealed;
“The government owes about $38 million that should have been paid to complete the Cyber Security Authority building and deploy the RAZON technology.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
He assured Parliament that under President John Mahama’s administration, this project would be completed, enhancing Ghana’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
Hon. Sam George concluded by calling on Parliament to support the Ministry of Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation’s initiatives to secure Ghana’s cyberspace. He emphasized;
“It’s a tall order, but we are focused on achieving this over the next year. I crave the indulgence of this House to back the Ministry as we begin this process to clean up our digital space.”
Hon. Sam George Minister for Communications, Digitalisation, and Innovation
His remarks set the stage for a comprehensive digital policy agenda under the new government, prioritizing cybersecurity, misinformation control, and digital tax reforms.
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