St Peter’s 2024 champions of cybersecurity challenge

St Peter’s Senior High School has been crowned champions of this year’s national cybersecurity challenge in a fiercely contested battle at the University of Professional Studies Accra. 

The school opened the first round by dominating the contest with 30 points while its closest contender, Achimota School, followed closely with 29.5 points,

However, in round two, Achimota School ousted St. Peter’s by dominating with 13 points, with Wa Senior High School announcing its presence with 11 points, beating St. Peter’s and Serwaa Kese Girls which had 9 and 8 points respectively.

In the third round, it was almost certain that Achimota was going to be crowned winners of the challenge as the team scored 18 points, the highest in that round.

Again, Wa Senior High School rubbed shoulders with St Peter’s in the third round by tallying  in that round with 13 points each while Serwaa Kese Girls remained at the button with five points.

However, the competition took a dramatic turn, crushing  Achimota School’s hope of winning the contest when St. Peter’s Senior High School pulled a profound victory during the riddle stage, the final round of the contest.

St. Peter’s Senior High School  pulled the biggest surprise of the day by beating the other schools with a whopping 24 points while Achimota School’s performance could only give them five points.

At the end of the contest, which was marked by intense rivalry, St Peter’s Senior High School garnered 76 points, while Achimota School secured the second place with 65.5 points.

St Peter’s Senior High School took home a cash prize of GH¢ 7,000 while Achimota School took home GH¢5,000 with laptops and certificates.

Wa Senior High School came third with 54 points, and went home with GH¢3,000 while Sewaa Kese, which finished fourth with 38 points went home with GH¢2,000.

The finalists were also given laptops, certificates and medals. 

Launch

As part of the climax, the wife of the Vice-President, Samira Bawumia, launched the National Child Online Protection (COP) Framework. 

It will provide the administrative, regulatory, institutional and legal support to protect children when using the Internet

She explained that the issues of misinformation, disinformation were not mere inconveniences but a threat to the country’s democracy and peace.

The fight against these challenges, she stressed must be relentless, for all and not just government institutions adding, “We must ensure that our online spaces remains trust worthy, safe and secure”

She further urged parents, teachers, and law enforcement agencies and children to play their respective roles towards a safe digital world.

For the contestants, she said, “You are the future custodians  of Ghana digital landscape. Continue to be innovators and change makers that you are, never allow the challenges of life to prevent you from continuing to thrive,” she said. 

Commitment  

The Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Charles Acheampong, underscored the government’s commitment to use the contest to nurture the country’s young cyber champions for the future.

With the launch of the framework, he said government’s aim was to cover more young children to ensure they had the tools and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely.

He urged the contestants to nurture the interest they had shown in the cybersecurity space since those skills  were in high demand .

That, he said, would ensure that they gained the requisite skills set to help proffer solutions for fostering Ghana’s cyber culture. 

UNICEF

The Deputy Country Representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Fiachra Mcasey, said his outfit was committed to supporting government’s efforts towards a safer online world for children to grow and thrive in the ever growing digital world.

He further called on the government to ratify the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. 

Contest

Launched in 2022 with only six schools participating, this year’s contest saw a total of 70 Senior High Schools participating.

Cybersecurity Challenge, which commenced in July this year, forms part of efforts by the Cyber Security Authority to promote cyber safety and awareness among high school students by providing them with firsthand experiences in identifying, preventing, and mitigating digital threats, especially online child sexual exploitation and abuse.