By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST), Prof. Christian Agyare, has reaffirmed the university’s support for
cybersecurity education and backed a national initiative aimed at strengthening
the capacity of media practitioners to report on cybersecurity and emerging
technology risks.
Prof.
Agyare made the remarks when a delegation from the National Community Media
Cyber Capacity Building Project paid a courtesy call on him at KNUST ahead of
the Kumasi edition of the programme.
The
delegation was led by Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao, Head of the Department of Computer
Engineering and Scientific Director of DIPPER Lab at KNUST, and included
officials from the department, DIPPER Lab, the Africa Center for Digital
Transformation (ACDT) and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ghana.
The
delegation was led on behalf of the Czech Embassy by Deputy Ambassador H.E.
Nick Ojo Omorodion.
Prof.
Agyare said the initiative aligns with KNUST’s existing efforts to promote
cybersecurity and responsible technology use.
“I think it
is in the right direction because the University is also running programmes in
cybersecurity. It is in line with what we are doing, and we are happy to be
part of it,” he said.
He also
stressed that while emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence
present significant opportunities, their potential risks must receive equal
attention.
The
Vice-Chancellor further called for stronger institutional ties between KNUST
and universities in the Czech Republic, proposing expanded cooperation through
research partnerships, staff exchanges and student exchange programmes.
Deputy
Ambassador Omorodion disclosed that the project is funded by the Czech
government under its Transformation Cooperation Programme.
He said the
initiative is intended to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills
required to report accurately and ethically on cybersecurity threats while
contributing to wider cybersecurity cooperation between Ghana and Czechia.
Prof. Tchao
said the project was developed to help media practitioners better understand
and communicate the risks associated with artificial intelligence and other
emerging technologies.
He said the
initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity awareness
and digital risk communication in Ghana.
Executive
Director of ACDT Kwesi Atuahene also welcomed the collaboration between ACDT,
DIPPER Lab and the KNUST Department of Computer Engineering.
