Chief Justice Gertrude Turkournoux called on judges to use digital tools and knowledge to ensure decisions in cybercrime cases.
She said that despite its relevance to current development activities, internet services also provided a platform for criminals to pursue criminal activities that threatened the safety and security of the country.
She said this requires judges to increase their capacity and skills on the internet and its governance so that they can deal with new cybercrime cases.
Judge Turknou attended the Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for Judges meeting organized by the National Cyber Security Agency (CSA) in cooperation with the European Union (EU) under the Framework of Addressing Cybersecurity and Electronic Evidence in Organized Crime West Africa. A three-day introductory training course on the subject has begun in Accra. Fight against cybercrime.
It aimed to improve the skills of judges and prosecutors in adjudicating cybercrimes in the country.
She advocated the adoption of technology in the administration of justice and other fields in general, describing the Internet as a useful tool that helps increase productivity and simplify various aspects of human life.
Similarly, the Chief Justice said it has become an avenue for unscrupulous actors to participate in criminal activities such as financial fraud, cyberbullying and blackmail.
“The Internet has enabled a new level of crime. These cybercrimes are multifaceted and transnational in nature.
This requires the judiciary to be equipped with new tools to deal with such cases. We also need to build the capacity of several criminal justice actors, such as the Narcotics Enforcement Commission and the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC), to enable them to effectively fulfill their roles,” she added.
CSA Director-General Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako said the main threats to which Ghanaian online users are exposed are online extortion, unauthorized access, cyberbullying and non-consensual publication of intimate images.
He said total losses due to cyber fraud increased from GH¢2.6 million in 2021 to GH¢4.3 million in 2022, according to the Bank of Ghana.
“Our country is not immune to these threats. Current data collected from CSA’s National Computer Emergency Response Team has identified online fraud as a major threat in Ghana’s digital space,” he said. said.
Despite the threats, he noted that the administration of justice has been hampered by challenges in considering electronic evidence, forensic evidence and other complex technical issues involved in court proceedings.
Dr. Antwi Boasiako said the CSA is committed to working with judicial authorities to address challenges related to the prosecution of cybercrime cases, such as territorial jurisdiction.
Massimo Mina, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ghana, commended the efforts of the CSA in the fight against cybercrime, adding that the EU will continue to support the CSA in raising awareness and strengthening its capacity.
He said the training will help participants delve into various aspects of cybercrime, including the techniques used by cybercriminals and the challenges faced in collecting and presenting electronic evidence in court. .