The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) of Ghana has called on boards, chief executives, and senior leaders across the country's financial and digital ecosystems to take greater responsibility for cybersecurity. Director-General of the CSA, Divine Selase Agbeti, emphasized that cyber risks should not be left solely to technology departments, as they can affect an organization's operations, systems, and data. This was stated at the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, held at the University of Ghana on October 1.
According to Mr. Agbeti, cybersecurity has become a business issue that requires the attention of senior leadership. He urged boards and senior executives to ask critical questions about their organizations' preparedness for cyber incidents, including how quickly they could detect and contain an intrusion. This includes assessing whether their organizations have the capacity to identify threats early and respond effectively when attacks occur.
Mr. Agbeti also stressed the importance of testing incident response plans, saying organizations should not wait for an attack before determining whether their systems and teams are prepared to respond. He asked, "If our systems fail tonight, can we continue operating tomorrow morning? Do we know which third parties have access to our critical systems and data?" This highlights the need for organizations to examine their ability to maintain operations in the event of a major systems failure.
Effective cybersecurity, Mr. Agbeti said, should not be measured only by an organization's ability to prevent attacks but also by its capacity to withstand and recover from them. He emphasized that resilience is not the absence of attacks, but the ability to anticipate them, withstand them, recover from them, and emerge stronger. This requires building systems and processes that allow organizations to respond to cyber incidents while maintaining essential operations.
Mr. Agbeti sent a strong message to individuals who believe cyberspace provides anonymity for criminal activity. He stated that the CSA, working with law enforcement, intelligence, regulatory, and international partners, would continue to strengthen Ghana's capacity to identify, investigate, and disrupt cyber-enabled crime. This aims to hold cybercriminals accountable, despite their ability to operate across borders.
The CSA Director-General emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity awareness and collaboration across Ghana's financial and digital ecosystems. He urged organizations to recognize cyber risk as part of their wider business responsibilities. This call for action aims to promote a culture of cybersecurity that goes beyond IT departments and involves senior leadership and boards.
The 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, held under the theme "Securing the Digital Finance Ecosystem," highlights the importance of cybersecurity in Ghana's digital transformation. The CSA's efforts aim to promote a safer digital environment, and Mr. Agbeti's message emphasizes that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires the attention of all stakeholders.
Key points
- The Cyber Security Authority of Ghana is urging senior leaders to take responsibility for cybersecurity.
- Cybersecurity is a business risk that requires the attention of senior leadership.
- Effective cybersecurity involves not only preventing attacks but also withstanding and recovering from them.
