The Hot Pepper has gathered that all efforts has been made by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr., to secure space at the Police Academy in Paynesville for a proposed CyberCrime laboratory, but the building still remains empty due to the lack of financial assistance from the Government of Liberia (GOL).
Speaking on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at the opening of a two-day workshop organized by ECOWAS, with support from the EU through its project implementing arm, Organized Crime West African Response on Cyber Security (OCWAR-C), Minister Kruah called for collective efforts to ensure that Liberia remain the target on the list of ECOWAS to host a Cyber Crime laboratory in West Africa.
Minister Kruah appreciated the efforts of OCWAR-C delegation and the Government of Liberia (GOL), but insisted that a collective effort is needed to ensure that posts and telecommunications play the appropriate road.
He further asserted that those participating in the training process must take note and prepare themselves as trainers of trainers to help other Liberians.
The Post and Telecommunications Minister further noted that Cyber Crime is a major problem now in other parts of the world, Liberia being no exception; therefore, Liberia must prepare and take the lead.
Minister Kruah appreciated President Weah for endorsing the Final Draft of the CyberCrime Act, which is expected to meet the approval of the National Legislature for onward enactment.
He emphasized the program’s importance to the Ministry of Justice and the National Security Agency (NSA) and other relevant security apparatus to ensure that the project is implemented, and also applauded the efforts by the government to ensure a site is secured for the Cybercrime laboratory.
It can be recalled that on Monday, November 2, 2020, two persons represented ECOWAS along with the Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Prosper Browne, of the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications and toured the proposed Forensic Lab Project in Paynesville with the Ministry’s Project Officer, D. NalonKaine, but the building still remains empty without renovation to enable the implementation of ECOWAS proposal for the installation of all computers and equipment necessary for the Forensic Cybercrime laboratory that will be a boost to the Government of Liberia (GOL).
Also speaking on the program, Rabyatou Bah, team leader of OCWAR–C Mission in Liberia, told participants at the workshop that the methodological workshop for the establishment of a National Computer Security Incident Respond Team (CSIRT) is organized in the framework of OCWAR –C, Expertise France, and the French international technical cooperation agency.
She said they have been working alongside ECOWAS Commission since February 2019 to enhance cyber security and combat cybercrime for the benefit of its Member States, among others.
“The overall objective of the OCWAR-C project is to contribute to enhancing cyber security and fight against cybercrime in ECOWAS zone and in Islamic Republic of Mauritania,” she said.
The OCWAR-C team leader in Liberia said the first phase was to situate Liberia’s preparedness and develop a detailed action plan for the operational phase, in order to best meet the country’s needs.