The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Roey Gilad, has called for stronger global alliances and public-private partnerships to counter the growing menace of cyber-attacks, citing the increasing scale and complexity of threats worldwide.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Summit in Accra, Mr. Gilad emphasised that collaboration between governments, private sector actors, and international institutions was vital to building resilient cyber systems.
“Public awareness is our first line of defence,” the Ambassador noted, stressing that even technologically advanced countries like Israel could not combat cyber threats in isolation. He encouraged Ghana to deepen cooperation with Israeli firms and institutions in the cybersecurity space.
Highlighting Israel’s investment in cybersecurity, Mr. Gilad revealed that the sector attracted $3.8 billion in 2024 alone—accounting for 36% of the country’s high-tech investment portfolio. He invited Ghanaian stakeholders to participate in Israel’s 2025 Cyber Week, scheduled for June, as an opportunity to explore innovation and collaboration.
The CISO Summit brought together top Information Technology leaders, regulators, and global cybersecurity experts to tackle emerging threats and share strategies for organisational resilience.
Ghana’s cyber landscape has also faced significant challenges. Between January and June 2023, the country lost GH¢49.5 million to cyber fraud, according to the Cyber Security Authority. Officials say the real figure could be much higher due to underreporting.
To address these concerns, Ghana launched its National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy in 2024 to bolster the country’s digital defences amid rapid technological transformation.
Speaking at the summit, Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, said cybersecurity decisions must be informed by both business risk and evolving tech trends.
“Technology alone cannot secure organisations. People remain the weakest link,” Mr. Agbeti warned, urging Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to partner with HR and management to foster a culture of security.
The summit underscored the urgent need for strategic partnerships and cultural shifts in cybersecurity practices as Ghana, like many nations, continues to embrace digitalisation.
