WiCyS West Africa Affiliate Hosts Crucial Workshop In Accra — The Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) West Africa Affiliate, in collaboration with Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA), is set to hold an impactful workshop aimed at arming women, NGOs, civil society organizations (CSOs), journalists, and underserved communities with critical skills to tackle the ever-evolving dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and other cyber threats.
Slated for October 30-31, 2024, at Accra’s Airport View Hotel, the event is expected to kick off at 8:00 am each day. Dr. Antwi Boasiako, the CSA’s Director General, will deliver the keynote address, setting the tone for an intensive two-day program dedicated to cyber resilience and safety.
This initiative is bolstered by a network of influential supporters, including the UK FCDO Africa Cyber Program, TAG International, and the Cyber Intelligence and Security Aid Bureau (CISAB).
Their backing accents the critical importance of equipping vulnerable groups with the tools to steer and counteract the growing wave of digital misinformation and cyber-based threats, which are increasingly targeting individuals, organizations, and entire communities in West Africa.
The workshop will delve into practical training and awareness-building sessions designed to equip participants with the knowledge necessary to identify and combat malicious digital content. Attendees will learn to recognize the signs of misinformation and disinformation, an area of particular relevance to journalists and NGOs who frequently operate on the front lines of information dissemination.
The training is expected to significantly enhance their capacity to safeguard their platforms, ensuring their information is accurate and trustworthy.
In addition to these core sessions, the workshop will provide a unique forum for discussing emerging cyber threats that directly impact both individual users and organizations. Special sessions will address the need for resilience against digital manipulation and exploitation in underserved communities.
This focus is expected to bring much-needed awareness to areas that might otherwise remain vulnerable to unchecked cyber threats.
Dr. Boasiako’s keynote will likely underscore the national and regional importance of cyber awareness and preparedness, especially as cyber-attacks become more sophisticated and targeted. The event’s organizers hope his insights will inspire deeper commitment and proactive responses from participants and stakeholders.
By the end of the workshop, WiCyS West Africa and its partners aim to not only impart critical technical skills but to foster a proactive culture of cybersecurity. This gathering promises to be more than just a learning event; it is a step towards creating a resilient network of informed individuals and organizations dedicated to securing the digital landscape of West Africa.
