Ghana: Press spotlights NITA’s partnership with 2 institutions to enhance cybersecurity, others | APAnews

The report that the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has partnered two other institutions to strengthen Ghana’s digital infrastructure is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Monday.
The Graphic reports that the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has partnered two other institutions to strengthen Ghana’s digital infrastructure.
They are Smart Infraco Limited and global cybersecurity leader Trend Micro.
The partnership aims to empower government organisations with robust cybersecurity solutions, and ensuring a secure and resilient digital ecosystem that can withstand potential cybersecurity threats.
The three institutions have thus, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to consummate the partnership.
The Director-General of NITA, Dr Richard Okie-Fosu, signed on behalf of the agency, while the MMEA Volume Business Manager for Trend Micro, Mazen Al-Adhami, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Smart Infraco, Harkirit Singh, initialled for their respective companies.
Mr Okyere-Fosu who expressed satisfaction with the partnership said Ghana’s digitalisation has now reached a stage where the whole economy was underpinned by digital infrastructure and applications.
The risk these systems and applications pose to our economy and daily lifestyle is ever growing and we as a nation needs to take deliberate steps to properly profile the risk element and have a comprehensive mitigation measure that is forward-looking as part of our national business continuity plan.
One such risk factor that is not only peculiar to Ghana, but a global menace is cyber threats. Cyber threats come in various forms, one of which is the spread of virus which mostly cripple government systems and services,” he said.
The newspaper says that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Presidential Candidate for the 2024 elections, has initiated his nationwide campaign tour on Monday, 29 April 2024.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications of the Bawumia for President 2024 campaign, Dr. Miracles Aboagye, said this marks the beginning of a strategic effort by Dr. Bawumia and his campaign team to engage with Ghanaians across all 16 regions in a bid to secure victory in the upcoming polls.
The statement said the campaign would have a strong emphasis on an issues and prioritize addressing key concerns and presenting practical solutions tailored to resonate with the Ghanaian populace.
The campaign also aims to foster meaningful dialogue and interaction with various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious figures, youth groups, traders, farmers, students, and business owners.
It further disclosed that the nationwide tour, which kicks off in the Eastern Region, signifies Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to engaging with Ghanaians from diverse backgrounds, understanding their needs, and articulating a vision for the future of the country.
The Graphic also reports that a new report by migration consultancy firm Henley & Partners has found that African applicants face a significantly higher hurdle than most when it comes to obtaining a Schengen visa, with rejection rates reaching a staggering 30% in 2022.
This stands in stark contrast to the global average of 17.5 percent and disproportionately impacts African nations despite them submitting the fewest applications per capita.
The data paints a concerning picture with seven of the top 10 countries with the highest rejection rates are African, including Algeria (45.8 percent), Guinea-Bissau (45.2 percent), and Nigeria (45.1 percent). Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Senegal and Mali all had between 40 percent and 45 percent of applications denied.
The report mentioned that in Ghana, out of a total of 42,124 Schengen Visa applications in 2022, 18,363 (43.6 percent) were rejected.
Compared to applicants from the US, Canada, or the UK, who see rejection rates around four percent, Algerians face a tenfold rejection rate.
Even fellow developing nations like India and Turkey have rejection rates significantly lower than most African countries.
While economic factors and passport strength do play a role, experts argue they don’t fully explain the disparity. The report suggests that overstaying appears to be a major factor in rejections, despite a lack of evidence linking them to reduced irregular migration.
This trend not only hinders mobility for Africans but also creates a barrier to trade and business partnerships between Africa and Europe.
The report urged the European Union to address these discriminatory practices and promote a fairer visa system that fosters stronger relationships and opportunities for legal travel between the two continents.
Africa accounted for seven of the top ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates in 2022;
The Daily Guide reports that the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo, has charged Agriculture ministers from Africa to build a more sustainable and resilient future for the cashew industry.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 6th Council of Ministers’ Conference of the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC) held in Accra between April 14 and 20, 2024, the minister underscored the need for collaboration among member countries to achieve a resilient cashew industry in Africa.
“It is imperative that we work together to build a more sustainable and resilient future for the cashew industry in Africa and beyond. While significant progress has been made, addressing issues such as climate change, market volatility and social equity within the cashew industry requires continued collaboration and innovation”, he noted.
Highlighting the prospects of cashew production in Africa, Mr. Addo intimated that, “our favourable climate provides us with the opportunity to sustainably develop this sector through collective efforts” as Africa holds the distinction of being the world’s largest producer of cashew, accounting for 58% of the global production.”
“As Ministers of Agriculture and Trade from cashew-growing countries in Africa, we bear the responsibility of formulating and implementing effective policies that benefit our farmers and stakeholders along the value chain. We are obligated to provide our people with solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the sector”, he stressed.
Held alongside the 6th CICC were series of activities including the Cashew Research Dialogue, which brought together ministers, experts and researchers from member countries to share knowledge, discuss achievements and identify gaps in research and development within the cashew industry.
The event also saw the Cashew Expo and Exhibition, which provided a platform for the showcase of various cashew products (raw and residual), educate the public on their benefits, and expose local cashew processors to potential markets.
The CICC, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is an international and intergovernmental organizationestablished in 2016 to promote, advocate, share knowledge, innovate, and provide platforms for discussions on issues related to the cashew value chain.
Comprising of 11 member countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, the CICC aims to support the development of the cashew sector and contribute to the economic and social growth of its member states.
GIK/APA