Corporate organisations, particularly the banks, have been urged to invest in robust cyber security systems, in order to safeguard their operations from cyber-attacks and threats.
This is because cyber security was continually evolving, and attackers were becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
The acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Mr Divine Selase Agbeti, gave the advice during the opening of the Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Summit 2025, in Accra.
The two-day event, organised by the Israeli Economic and Trade Mission in Ghana, is being held under the theme “Proven Strategies for Global Cyber Executives: Maximising Organisational Security and Efficiency.”
It is being attended by chief information security officers, IT experts, regulators, and global cyber security solution providers.
Mr Agbeti revealed that hackers were constantly developing new tools and strategies to steal data from corporate entities, and it was, therefore, crucial for organisations to continuously upgrade their systems in order to stay ahead of cyber criminals.
He asked banks to be proactive in the cyber space, and ensure that their cyber security policies and controls were advanced and up-to-date.
Mr Agbeti stressed that financial institutions must not only protect themselves but also put in place systems to minimise the impact of any potential cyber-attacks.
He urged all financial institutions to establish cyber security departments, and that both the departments and the professionals working there, should be accredited by the CSA.
Mr Agbeti said that it was the responsibility of each institution to conduct regular threat-hunting exercises and risk assessments, and to address any risks identified.
He said the government aimed to make Ghana a safe and secure digital economy, and to position the country as a digital hub in the West African sub-region.
Mr Agbeti said that the CSA was aligning its goals with the government’s digital transformation agenda, pointing out that such move could not occur without a secure digital environment.
He mentioned that the Authority was working to build national capacity by raising public awareness and training cyber security professionals, with the long-term objective of making Ghana an exporter of cyber talent within West Africa.
Mr Agbeti described the CISO Summit as timely, explaining that the current cyber security landscape demanded serious leadership.
He asserted that the role of CISOs must go beyond technical tasks such as monitoring firewalls and should be strategically aligned with the broader goals of their respective organisations.
The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Mr Roey Gilad, encouraged Ghana and corporate organisations to tap into Israel’s expertise in cyber security, to develop a strong and resilient cyber ecosystem.
He stated that Israeli private firms had invested approximately $3.8 billion in cyber security and high-tech infrastructure.
The Head of Africa and the Middle East at Israel’s Foreign Trade Administration, Mr Shai Zarivatch, said that Israel was a global leader in cyber security innovation, with more than 450 specialised start-ups in the sector by the end of 2024.
He explained that Israel’s leadership in cybersecurity had its roots in military expertise and national security needs, which had evolved to drive investment, innovation, and economic growth in response to global challenges.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE