By Jacob Aggrey
The 14th edition of the Tech in Ghana conference has officially concluded in Accra. The two-day event brought together key players in Ghana’s tech industry to discuss innovation, collaboration, and the future of technology.
This year’s conference, themed “Security, Synergy, and Storytelling,” focused on data protection, collaboration between local and international stakeholders, and sharing Ghana’s success stories in the global tech space.
The Founder of Tech in Ghana, Akosua Annobil, reflecting on the journey since the platform’s launch in 2017, highlighted the consistent growth of Ghana’s tech ecosystem despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This year feels different. It feels like we have landed not just as a platform but also as an ecosystem,” she said. She noted that Tech in Ghana had hosted over 700 speakers and 4,000 delegates across its 13 previous events.
According to her, the platform had also fostered connections between Ghanaian startups and international opportunities, including partnerships in France, South Korea, and Morocco. Akosua Annobil emphasized the importance of making tech innovators as recognizable as music artists, saying,
“Tech has a big opportunity to inspire young people. We need to immerse pop culture into the tech industry for the greater good.”
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Harriet Thompson, lauded Tech in Ghana as a key platform for driving innovation and growth. She expressed pride in the UK’s partnership with the event, highlighting initiatives such as AI for development and climate-smart agriculture programs.
“Technology and innovation are fundamental tools for finding solutions to global challenges like climate change and cybersecurity,” she said. The High Commissioner also urged participants to collaborate, innovate, and share stories that will propel Ghana’s tech ecosystem forward.
The Bank of Ghana’s Head of Fintech and Innovation, Kwame Oppong, commended Tech in Ghana for its role in showcasing Ghana’s technological advancements. He outlined the central bank’s efforts to enable fintech growth, including the establishment of its Fintech Office in 2020, policies on interoperability, and the development of a central bank digital currency.
“We want to create a regional hub for fintech innovation in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with market stability,” Oppong stated. He also highlighted cross-border payment solutions being tested between Ghana and Nigeria to enhance regional integration.
The Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, acknowledged the global challenge of building capacity in cybersecurity and pointed out that Ghana was the first African country to implement a full legislative and accreditation process for cybersecurity professionals.
He revealed that Ghana currently has about 1,560 accredited cybersecurity professionals across three tiers of expertise, adding that there was a need to accurately assess and develop capacity to secure the nation’s digital space effectively.
Dr. Antwi-Boasiako encouraged young people to pursue careers in cybersecurity and take advantage of the accreditation framework to enhance their professional opportunities. He also announced ongoing partnerships with countries such as Mozambique and Singapore aimed at sharing Ghana’s innovative cybersecurity framework.
He expressed optimism about the potential for accredited Ghanaian professionals to work seamlessly across African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Furthermore, he noted the growth of cybersecurity service providers in Ghana, with over 200 firms established, and expressed hope that other African countries would adopt similar frameworks.
He urged stakeholders, including policymakers and development practitioners, to support Ghana’s efforts to build a sustainable and secure digital future.
The Group CEO of Old Mutual Ghana, Mr. Tavona Biza, stressed that as a financial services company with over 180 years of history, Old Mutual prioritized security and responsibility in its operations. He highlighted the company’s efforts to grow and scale in innovative ways while staying committed to being a responsible business.
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