UK (Commonwealth Union)_ Judges from Ghana, Malawi, and Zambia have lauded the training workshops organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat, designed to enhance their capabilities in handling cybercrime cases. More than 150 judicial officers underwent training provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Cyber Unit in the three countries. The workshops included simulations to deepen participants’ understanding of cyber threats, covering online crimes such as phishing, ransomware, scams, malware, and artificial intelligence-enabled offenses. The training drew from successful practices, including those of INTERPOL, offering insights into international, regional, and national frameworks for protecting user data and combating cybercrimes.
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Judges and magistrates acquired skills in applying internationally recognized best practices within their jurisdictions, focusing on gathering admissible electronic evidence and fostering multi-state cooperation for prosecuting cybercrimes. In Accra, Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, praised the Commonwealth team for their valuable insights, acknowledging that documented cybercrime cases had cost Ghana about US $200 million between 2016 and 2018. The Honourable Justice Elita Phiri Mwikisa in Zambia described the training as an “eye-opening” examination of international conventions addressing cybercrime issues, emphasizing its impact on vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. Meanwhile, in Malawi, Chief Justice Rizine Robert Mzikamanda commended the initiative for better equipping the judiciary to handle cybercrime cases more effectively.
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According to reports, Africa loses over $3.5 billion to cybercrime, undermining development efforts across the continent. Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General, Professor Luis Franceschi, emphasized the need for countries to remain vigilant against cyber threats by regularly updating security protocols, practices, and policies. Acknowledging the ongoing need to develop the capabilities of judicial officers in adjudicating cybercrime cases, Professor Franceschi expressed hope that the training would empower participants to identify practical solutions to the challenges faced in safeguarding citizens against online threats.
Professor Franceschi added, “Our study shows that there is still a need to develop the capabilities of our judicial officers to effectively adjudicate cybercrime cases. With this training, you will now be able to draw on the expertise of our facilitators. We hope that your experience, coupled with the information you have garnered, will help you identify practical solutions to the many challenges we face in our countries in order to safeguard our citizens against online threats.” Supported by the United Kingdom’s International Development Office, the training workshops were conducted by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Cyber Unit, established in 2018, and have trained approximately 1,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judicial officials from 55 Commonwealth member countries.
