EOCO and CSA to collaborate in the fight against cybercrimes

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Cyber Security Authority CSA) have pledged to collaborate in the fight against cybercrimes in Ghana.

This was made known on Tuesday, 25 January 2022, when the Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, leading a 6-member delegation, paid a familiarization visit to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in Accra.

COP Addo-Danquah said her visit was based on the mandate of EOCO stipulated in the EOCO Act 2010, which empowers EOCO to investigate and, on the authority of the Attorney-General, prosecute serious offences that involve prohibited cyber activity. Therefore, the visit was to understand the work of the CSA in fighting cybercrime and to discuss areas of collaboration. She acknowledged that the Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038) also provides for the two institutions, among others, to cooperate under the Joint Cybersecurity Committee (JCC).

Welcoming the EOCO delegation to the Authority, the Ag. Director-General of the CSA, Dr Albert Antwi-Bosiako, said the Executive Director’s visit in less than a month after her appointment indicated the importance she attaches to cybercrime and cybersecurity matters and her willingness to collaborate with the CSA to address cybercrime challenges facing the country.

He added further that most organized crimes are becoming cyber-enabled. Therefore, EOCO has a responsibility to build capacity in cybercrime investigations and digital forensics to be able to deliver on this critical law enforcement mandate effectively.

He used the opportunity to congratulate COP Addo-Danquah on her appointment as EOCO boss and assured her of the readiness of the Authority to collaborate in the fight against organised crime in the country.

He indicated that, following the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) was formally launched on 1st October 2021 by the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, to regulate cybersecurity activities and promote the development of cybersecurity in the country.

“As a regulatory body, the CSA has a responsibility to support law enforcement and security agencies to carry out their legal mandates in addressing cybercrime and cybersecurity challenges”, he added.

To further enhance CSA’s cooperation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, Dr Antwi-Boasiako said the CSA had established the Law Enforcement Liaison Unit (LELU) within its operations to, among other things, coordinate CSA’s operational engagements and activities with law enforcement and security sector agencies.

Source: Ghana Web