Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has warned that Ghana cannot afford to slow its progress in cybersecurity, citing gaps in digital infrastructure and rising cyber threats that could undermine the gains made over the past decade.
Speaking at the launch of The Republic: A Professional Journey, Ghana’s Cybersecurity and the Making of a Role Model Country, authored by former Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Akufo-Addo praised Ghana’s rise from 32.6% on the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index in 2017 to 99.27% in 2024.
He said these achievements require continued investment, coordination and political commitment.
He highlighted key initiatives during his tenure, including data centre projects, AI research collaborations and international cybersecurity partnerships, and said he sincerely hoped critical projects, such as the 30MW Trade Fair Data Centre, were progressing without delays.
Akufo-Addo said Dr Antwi-Boasiako’s book provides a roadmap for addressing emerging weaknesses in Ghana’s digital architecture. The publication traces the country’s cybersecurity evolution—from early fraud concerns linked to mobile money, through the 2003 ICT4AD Policy, to the establishment of institutions such as the National CERT, the Cyber Security Authority, and the child online protection framework.
The former president noted that coordinated leadership between policymakers, technical experts and international partners helped Ghana achieve Tier-1 status and emerge as a model country on the continent, and said the lessons in the 300-page work underline the urgency of maintaining momentum as cyber risks expand.
The book was reviewed by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe of the Court of Appeal, who said it demonstrates that “serving one’s nation with dedication surpasses any other form of personal comfort or material gain.”
Other dignitaries, including Italy’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Laura Ranalli, and Innovare CEO C.K. Bruce, praised Dr Antwi-Boasiako for his contributions to national development.
