West Africa must build own cyber talent to protect digital sovereignty – Sam George

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has urged West African developers and cybersecurity professionals to take ownership of the region's digital security, warning that countries which fail to protect their digital infrastructure may become dependent on foreign expertise.

The Minister made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Regional Hackathon 2026 in Accra on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The 48-hour competition, organised by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with the Cyber Security Authority, has brought together developers and cybersecurity professionals from across the sub-region to develop solutions to emerging digital threats.

Real threats happening now

Addressing participants, Sam George said the rapid digital transformation taking place across West Africa is increasingly being threatened by cybercrime and other online security risks.

According to him, findings from the Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 indicate that ransomware attacks, business email compromise schemes and organised cyber fraud are becoming more sophisticated and widespread.

"These are not distant, abstract threats. They are happening in our cities, within our financial systems and institutions right now. The perpetrators are technically capable, well-resourced, and increasingly sophisticated," he said.

Global shortage, local opportunity

The Minister noted that while Ghana has made progress through the work of the Cyber Security Authority and other security agencies, the region continues to face a significant shortage of cybersecurity professionals. He cited estimates showing a global shortage of more than four million cybersecurity experts, with Africa facing one of the widest skills gaps.

Sam George, however, described the challenge as an opportunity for young Africans to position themselves for careers in a rapidly growing industry.

"This is not a sign of weakness, but of opportunity. The world urgently needs your skills. Our challenge is to build and channel sufficient talent quickly to address real-world problems," he stated.

Real-world solutions expected

The Minister urged participants to treat their projects as real-world solutions with potential for deployment. He highlighted that many impactful African tech solutions have originated from hackathons, emphasising the importance of urgency, creativity and problem-solving.

The ECOWAS Regional Hackathon 2026 is expected to foster collaboration among young innovators and promote regional efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience across West Africa. The competition focuses on building practical solutions to address rising cyber threats, including ransomware, online fraud and attacks on critical infrastructure across the sub-region.

Human element of cybersecurity

The Deputy Director-General (Technical Operations) of the Cyber Security Authority, Stephen Cudjoe-Seshie, stressed the human element of cybersecurity, noting that skilled and ethical professionals remain central to anticipating and responding to threats effectively.

He said that while technology plays a critical role, the human factor remains the most important element in defending against cyber threats. He encouraged participants to develop not only technical skills but also ethical judgment and a sense of responsibility.

Growing indigenous expertise

Also speaking, Ms Folake Olagunju from the digital economy sector noted progress in the competition's evolution, pointing out that this year's challenges were developed locally by an Accra-based firm, 00SEC – an indicator of growing indigenous cybersecurity expertise in the region.

She said the fact that local experts were capable of designing the hackathon challenges demonstrated that West Africa was building the capacity to solve its own digital security problems rather than relying on external solutions.

Regional collaboration

The hackathon reflects ECOWAS' broader push to deepen regional collaboration and strengthen digital security capacity as West Africa's digital economy continues to expand. The event brings together young cybersecurity professionals from across the sub-region for a 48-hour innovation challenge aimed at strengthening the region's cyber resilience.

The competition is expected to produce practical tools and frameworks that can be deployed across member states to combat common cyber threats, reinforcing the region's collective ability to protect its digital future.