Paper Title
Study on Data Management, Cyber Crime and Cyber Vulnerability in Ghana

Abstract
This paper will dilate on the increasing spate of poor data management, cybercrimes and vulnerability in Ghana. In today’s data driven world, malevolent software infection, cyber extortion, identity theft and fraud are rampant and individuals, private corporate entities and public corporations are liable to one form of computer risk or the other. Technology has significantly shaped the way information service providers conduct their business. Most businesses collect as much personal information from clients as possible to develop tailor made products for customer needs and take opportunities of the new trends in the process.Thus, this technological revolution comes with high incidence of cybercrime and vulnerability. Also, technological innovations facilitate data accessibility and information sharing across a wide spectrum of stakeholders. This brings about some loopholes which criminals exploit to their advantage. Cybercrime contributes to annual revenue loss in Ghana and cause havoc to businesses, particularly in the areas of interruptions as they attack people, steal confidential information and get access to the financial details of individual and companies and use it to their benefit.Every business using computer networks is at a risk and can be a victim to cybercrime, a fact which cannot be ignored. With the ever increasing risk and costs associated with cyber-attacks, it is very important that cyber café operators, individuals and companies should adopt best practices and implement a robust operational risks strategy to salvage the situation. Although most African countries such as Ghana is alien to robust risk management, it is still pertinent for companies to assess the extent of vulnerability and to get insurance companies to provide such services to mitigate the risk inherent in their operations. This study is therefore aimed at identifying the critical imperatives for ensuring effective management of data to reduce the incidence of cyber-crimes and vulnerability in Ghana. The study will be designed as a quantitative one in which 500 respondents will be drawn from information communication technology companies or services providers to answer specific questions on this topic. The findings from the study will help cyber cafe companies, private and public companies to better appreciate the enormity of the problem and to come up with measures to contain the situation. As part of cyber risk management, companies would be engaged to undertake insurance to mitigate cyber risks and to have a secure, hard to crack codes for their systems, carry out continuous appraisal of their new technologies and to ensure that their staffs comply with policies relating to password usage and confidentiality. Keywords - Data communication, cyber-crime and cyber vulnerability