Statement Of Foreign Policy Delegation: Ghana Date: February 5, 2011 Committee: The First Committee Delegate: Savindra Nicholus

Silva School: The British School Of Colombo Questions: 1. Suppressing and eradicating Cyber terrorism as a means of strengthening international peace and security. 2. Securing the rule of law by facilitating administrative and aid services in disaster afflicted areas. 1. Does my country support question 1 ? Yes. What is my country doing to support question 1 ? Ghana, in recent times is gaining a bad reputation for cyber crimes. Having experienced an increase in the number of cyber crimes (form of cyber terrorism) Ghana realizes that cyber terrorism poses a serious threat to international and national peace and security. With the increasing threat of cyber crimes in Ghana which is becoming the hub of the information super-highway of the west coast of Africa. Increasing majority of youth in Ghana are involved in some form of Cyber Crime. According to the Ministry of Communications, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu about 82 cyber crimes occur in Ghana every month and that is approximately 1000 crimes yearly. As a result international orders on the internet from Ghana and Nigeria have been blocked by businesses in the US and Canada. Ghana is distressed by the fact that Computer and Internet Technology is being used for crimes rather than the advancement of mankind. Ghana risks losing potential investors due to cyber fraud (Form of Cyber Terrorism) and this can damage the countrys efforts to develop. ICT experts in the country have suggested the establishment of a well- equipped and independent national cyber crimes unit to fight ICT crimes, especially cyber crimes in the country. Ghana believes that a department in the law faculty of the universities in Ghana and around the world should be created to teach how to legally handle cyber crimes in the world. In addition to this the national regulator of the ICT sector will embark of regular exercises of the internet service providers to check their activities. Those found to be a hub for cyber criminals would have their license revoked, new applicants would be thoroughly scrutinized before licenses are given to them to operate. It is estimated that between one and five billion dollars are lost annually to cyber criminals and Ghana is prepared to play a role in fighting cyber crime in and outside its borders. As Ghana is becoming the hub for the information super-highway in the west coast of Africa measures taken by Ghana against Cyber Terrorism will have a direct effect on international peace and security in that prospective. What does my country plan to do to further support question 1 ? Ghana will soon introduce a Cyber Security Bill to check the growing menace of cyber crimes occurring in the country. The minister of communications, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu said that this bill

will empower the security agencies and other organizations to wage an effective war against cyber terrorism in the country. We also believe that educating the youth against Cyber Terrorism if amongst one of the first steps to be carried out if Cyber Terrorism is to be eradicated. Does my country support question 2 ? Yes What is my country doing to support question 2 ? Ghana realizes that the rule of law during a disaster is one of the most important things that need to be dealt with. Without the rule of law a swift response to emergency situations would be near impossible. Communication during a disaster is the most important thing to establish, without it an appropriate respond cannot be possible. Vodafone Ghana a telecommunications company in Ghana is assisting the government and disaster management organizations in the country to ease the plight of victims of the recent floods and address other issues relating to flooding in the country. The government with the help of Vodafone Ghana is working on a program to develop a network that will not collapse in the event of some form of natural disaster. The Government of Ghana also realizes that working with NGOs in the and allowing them complete transparency will only help establish order in a chaotic situation. Ghana works side by side with Aid organizations affiliated with the UN and allowing the red cross to operate within the country with access to most areas. Since Ghana has experience severe floods in the past it is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to prepare contingency plans to strengthen national capacity for disaster preparedness. As the world becomes more and more compact ti is important for a developing country like Ghana to have a strong public health system to withstand and endure large-scale epidemics, disasters or any public health crisis. Giving people the best treatment possible automatically eliminates the disruption of the rule of law. Hence the government of Ghana has taken an initiative ( under the guidance of WHO ) to improve the countries response to outbreaks of epidemics such as the SARS virus . Educating the general public also plays an important role in improving the countries preparedness for disasters in general. What does my country plan to do to further support question 2 ? Ghana plans to work with NGOs and UN agencies to implement medium- and long-term strategies to prevent or mitigate disasters. The government of Ghana is set to improve its armed forces with more up to date equipment and training so that they may work more effectively in the frontlines.