State Audit, ANTIC to fight cyber crimes

The Supreme State Audit and the National Agency for Information and Communication Technology, known by its French acronym as ANTIC, have resolved to jointly fight against cyber crime and financial fraud and ensure transparency in the management of public funds in the various Government services.

The resolution is the substance of a partnership agreement the two institutions signed in Yaounde on October 8. The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Audit, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, and the General Manager of ANTIC, Dr. Enow Enow, sealed the deal in a solemn ceremony.

According to the terms of the agreement, both parties will ensure that outdated software that is easily manipulated is not used anywhere in the entire information system of the Government structures.

They will ensure also that no Government structure still uses the Windows XP programme that the Microsoft Company withdrew early this year, and updated it to outsmart manipulation by cyber criminals.

Thus, ANTIC computer engineers and Inspectors of the Supreme State Audit will carry out control missions to the various Government services. Going by the nitty- gritty of the agreement, the first joint mission to that effect will be in the field from October to December. Both parties hold that if the Windows XP software is allowed continuous usage, the Cameroonian cyber space will be vulnerable to so much criminality.

Speaking during the ceremony, Eyebe Ayissi said the agreement was the culmination of discussions with ANTIC. He said the scrupulous implementation of the agreement will enable Government to easily track down financial fraud.

Hear him; “The computer tool is an easy domain for manipulation which can cause the State to lose huge amounts of money. Audit in this area will, therefore, enable the State to save substantial amounts by tracking financial transactions.

The entire information system of organisations will be thoroughly examined in order to identify not only technological malfunctioning but also the breach of financial regulations and management efficiency in terms of Government action in this area to which Cameroon’s emergence by 2035 largely depends.”

The Minister declared that the partnership agreement with ANTIC will enable the Supreme State Audit to effectively carry out the audit of public information systems in the public and semi-public administrative services.

To him, the agreement will enable the State to “ensure more clarity on the conformity of laws and regulations, the reliability of processed information; the safety of data, the execution and optimisation of operations.”

It will also enable the State to avoid undermining the information systems reform.

He said it will help institutions to prevent threats posed by the use of fake equipment and software in the public information system. Going by the Minister, it was incumbent on the two institutions to work hand-in-glove in order to better contribute to the modernisation of the national information system.

The signing of the agreement, he went on, was inspired by a Prime Ministerial Order relating to the acquisition of authentic software from producers. To him, the deal was equally tailored to stem the tides of the rising cybercrime wave which does not spare any domains.

The agreement compels both parties to pull their resources together and develop effective strategies in order to accomplish their mission. They are also expected to jointly carry out specific activities necessary for the attainment of the objectives assigned to them and share information and good practices developed by the other party.

It was decided that the partnership may be amended at any time by mutual consent. The Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Michel-Ange Angouni and his counterpart of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Emmanuel Mbonde, attended the ceremony at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel.