Ghana Pushes for Stronger Cybersecurity Across Critical Infrastructure

Ghana is calling for stronger cybersecurity protections for critical infrastructure, particularly industrial systems that control essential services such as electricity and water.

200 institutions have been identified as critical infrastructure operators across 13 sectors, with compliance requirements already established under Ghana's cybersecurity framework.

The government is pushing for stricter enforcement, greater involvement from company executives and improved monitoring and incident response to reduce the risk of cyberattacks disrupting essential services.

Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, called for stronger protection of critical infrastructure against cyberattacks on Thursday, October 8. Speaking at a workshop organized by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in Accra, he stressed the need to secure operational technology (OT) systems used to monitor and control industrial equipment. Cyberattacks on these systems can disrupt industrial operations and essential services, including electricity and water supplies.

Ghana established its cybersecurity framework under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) . Authorities subsequently designated 13 critical information infrastructure sectors and introduced a directive setting out protection requirements in 2021. According to the government, approximately 200 institutions have been identified as critical infrastructure owners or operators. However, the effectiveness of these safeguards depends on whether organizations have the expertise, procedures and resources needed to comply.

George emphasized that compliance with cybersecurity requirements is mandatory and that protecting critical infrastructure is not solely the responsibility of IT departments. He called for greater involvement from company executives and boards, while reaffirming government support for the CSA's regulatory and enforcement mandate.

Cybersecurity Gaps Persist Across Africa

The International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 assesses countries' cybersecurity commitments across five areas: legal measures, technical capabilities, organizational measures, capacity development and cooperation. The ITU notes that the index measures whether cybersecurity measures exist, rather than their quality or effectiveness. Globally, 104 countries had regulations covering critical infrastructure.

In its 2025 review of progress in implementing the World Summit on the Information Society in Africa, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa reported that fewer than 30 African countries had fully operational national computer emergency response teams. It also identified shortages of cybersecurity professionals, fragmented budgets and poor coordination in responding to cyberattacks. These findings concern cybersecurity capabilities more broadly, rather than industrial infrastructure alone.

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