Accra: The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) Monday reaffirmed its commitment to working with national and international partners to build a safe, informed, and accountable digital space in Ghana. Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, the Acting Director-General of CSA, in a speech read on his behalf, said the Authority remained dedicated to strengthening Ghana’s ‘human firewall’ and ensuring that every citizen played a role in safeguarding the nation’s cyberspace.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Agbeti gave the assurance whilst delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Cyber Security 360 Workshop in Accra. The three-day workshop, organised by Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS) West Africa Affiliate, in partnership with the CSA, was on the theme: ‘Building a Safe, Informed and Accountable Digital Space-Strengthening Our Human Firewall.’
The event brought together cyber experts, journalists, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises to develop critical skills in identifying misinformation and enhancing cyber resilience. Mr. Agbeti commended the leadership of WiCyS for advancing Ghana’s cybersecurity development through collaboration, inclusion, and capacity building.
He said the workshop sought to democratise cybersecurity knowledge, build sector-specific resilience, and develop practical action plans to sustain the country’s digital safety. Mr. Agbeti said the participants, including journalists, civil society actors, business leaders, and emerging professionals, would engage in practical sessions on identifying misinformation and enhancing cyber resilience within their respective sectors.
‘This intervention by WiCyS aligns strongly with the Cyber Security Authority’s mandate of promoting cyber security awareness, professional standards, and stakeholder collaboration,’ he said. ‘It also supports our national vision for a safe and accountable digital Ghana where every citizen and institution contributes to the integrity and security of our digital space.’
Mr. Agbeti lauded the emphasis on women’s leadership and inclusion in cybersecurity, stressing that empowering women in the digital sector was critical to achieving national resilience. Mrs. Olayinka Naa Dzama Wilson-Kofi, President of WiCyS West Africa, underscored her organisation’s mission to recruit, retain, and advance women in cybersecurity while fostering collaboration with men (referred to as ‘allies’) across the industry.
She described the workshop as more than a training event, calling it a ‘movement’ that united professionals from diverse sectors to build a safe, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem. ‘In today’s world, where cyber threats are growing more complex and persistent, our greatest defense lies not in only technology, but in people, informed, empowered and accountable individuals who form the human firewall that protects our collective digital well-being,’ Mrs. Wilson-Kofi said.
She commended the United Kingdom Government, CSA, TAG International and her executive team for their support, while urging participants to engage meaningfully and share ideas that could shape the future of cybersecurity in West Africa. Mr. David Gale, First Secretary and Upstream Threats Lead at the British High Commission, lauded Ghana and WiCyS for championing women’s inclusion and cybersecurity awareness.
Drawing from his global security experience, he highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration on issues such as cybercrime prevention, cryptocurrency-related fraud, and misinformation management. He noted that cyber threats had become integral to modern security concerns, requiring holistic and coordinated responses that integrated gender inclusion, technology, and human capacity development.
‘We must work together to promote a safe, secure, and inclusive digital future,’ he said. Participants were taken through sessions on social engineering and other online manipulation tactics to enhance their vigilance against cyber threats, promoting online safety, trust, and accountability, and empowering women and underserved groups for a safe and inclusive digital future, among other topics.
Facilitators advised them to verify links before clicking, remain cautious online, and avoid greed-driven decisions that could expose them to scams. Female participants were encouraged to commit to continuous learning and to seek guidance in navigating online threats confidently.
WiCyS West Africa, established to promote women’s participation in cybersecurity, is part of a global network founded in 2012 to build a diverse and inclusive cybersecurity workforce. The Ghana-based affiliate aims to expand its impact across West Africa, including Nigeria, Togo, Benin, C´te d’Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.