No sustainable digital economy without trust, cybersecurity – CSA

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) asserts that digital trust is crucial for establishing a sustainable digital economy, emphasizing that cybersecurity is vital in preserving confidence in digital platforms and services. Divine Selase Agbeti, the Director-General of the CSA, highlighted the far-reaching consequences of cyber fraud, noting that these incidents not only cause immediate financial losses for victims but also erode public trust in the digital ecosystem.

Addressing the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which took place at the University of Ghana on October 1 under the theme "Securing Ghana’s Digital Finance Ecosystem," Agbeti underscored that when citizens lose confidence in digital platforms, the repercussions can extend beyond individual victims to encompass financial inclusion, e-commerce, innovation, and Ghana’s broader digital transformation efforts.

He emphasized that losing money to cyber fraud signifies more than just a monetary loss; it signifies a loss of confidence in the digital realm.

For the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the CSA’s theme stresses the importance of collaboration, as cybercriminals are not confined by institutional boundaries. They target various segments of the digital ecosystem, exploiting gaps between institutions such as banks, fintech companies, telecommunications operators, regulators, and law enforcement agencies.

Agbeti called for enhanced information-sharing among all entities operating within Ghana’s digital finance ecosystem, including financial institutions, telecommunications companies, regulators, technology firms, law enforcement agencies, and cybersecurity service providers. He stressed that timely exchanges of threat intelligence among these groups are essential to disrupt attacks before they result in losses.

Agbeti cautioned against viewing cybersecurity as a competitive endeavor among institutions. Instead, he advocated for a collaborative approach where institutions share relevant information when threats are identified to prevent others from falling victim to the same attacks. He illustrated this point with an example, stating that if one institution detects an attack today and another institution experiences the same attack tomorrow due to a lack of shared intelligence, the collective failure to protect against the threat becomes evident.

To effectively enhance collaboration, Agbeti argued that the effectiveness of cybersecurity efforts should be measured by the speed at which institutions can detect threats, share pertinent information, respond to incidents, and recover collectively. He reiterated that a connected approach to cybersecurity is imperative for fortifying Ghana’s digital ecosystem and safeguarding the trust of citizens and businesses utilizing digital services.

This message aligns with the CSA’s broader efforts during the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month to increase awareness of cybersecurity and foster greater cooperation across the digital economy.