Electoral Commission Urged to Implement Robust Cybersecurity Measures in Upcoming Elections.

Accra: The Frimpong-Manso Institute (FMI) has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to implement robust cybersecurity measures to avoid violence in upcoming elections. In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, the Institute highlighted the critical importance of cybersecurity in modern elections, which heavily depend on data, whether it is voter registration information, results from polling stations, or communication between election officials.According to Ghana News Agency, any compromise of this data due to cyber-attacks, manipulation, or exposure could severely disrupt electoral processes, erode public trust, and potentially alter election outcomes. To counter cyber threats to the Ghanaian electoral infrastructure, a multi-layered approach combining preventive, detective, and responsive strategies is deemed critical.The statement emphasized the need for the Commission to ensure network segmentation to isolate critical systems like voter databases, tallying systems, and communication netwo rks from non-critical systems, thereby reducing the impact of any potential breach. It also advised the implementation of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and enforcement of the principle of least privilege for all users, ensuring only authorized personnel have access to sensitive systems. Furthermore, end-to-end encryption should be used to secure all data in transit and at rest, especially sensitive voter information and election results.The Institute recommended that the EC collaborate with international cybersecurity organizations and intelligence agencies to gather real-time threat intelligence on known state-sponsored attackers and other potential adversaries. Staff should be trained to recognize spear-phishing attempts and advanced email filtering should be implemented to block malicious emails. The statement also encouraged the use of secure email protocols.Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on voter databases were advised to identify and remedy weaknesses. The EC was urged to maintain secure, offline backups of voter registration data to enable rapid restoration in case of tampering or ransomware attacks. 'Cybersecurity has become essential in today's digital age and cyberspace is also to counter cybercrimes and other related activities', the statement added.