The Fourth ECOWAS Regional Hackathon has opened in Accra, bringing together young technology innovators from across West Africa to develop cybersecurity solutions aimed at protecting the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
The four-day event is focused on strengthening digital resilience and fostering regional collaboration in the fight against growing cyber threats that pose risks to businesses, governments and critical infrastructure.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mr Samuel Nartey George, underscored the importance of investing in local cybersecurity talent as Africa accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
He noted that the increasing adoption of digital technologies in sectors such as banking, healthcare, agriculture, education and public administration had created new opportunities for economic growth, but also heightened exposure to cyberattacks.
According to the Minister, cybersecurity must become a strategic priority for African countries seeking to build sustainable digital economies.
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“As digital transformation continues to reshape economies across the continent, protecting digital infrastructure can no longer be treated as an afterthought,” he said.
Mr George warned against excessive reliance on foreign expertise to secure Africa’s digital systems, stressing the need to develop homegrown cybersecurity professionals capable of safeguarding the continent’s digital assets and supporting innovation-led growth.
He said strengthening local capacity would not only enhance cyber resilience but also create employment opportunities for young people and position Africa as a competitive player in the global digital economy.
The Acting Deputy Director-General responsible for Technical Operations at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Mr Stephen Cudjoe-Seshie, said West Africa’s growing digitalisation was increasing vulnerability to cybercrime, making regional cooperation essential.
“West Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating, driving innovation, expanding access and powering economic growth.
However, cyber threats ranging from online fraud and ransomware to attacks on critical infrastructure are evolving rapidly and require a collective regional response,” he said.
He explained that cyber threats were increasingly borderless and interconnected, affecting businesses, governments and individuals across multiple jurisdictions.
Mr Cudjoe-Seshie said strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS member states would help improve threat detection, information sharing and coordinated responses to cyber incidents.
The ECOWAS Director of Digital Economy and Post, Mrs Folake Olagunju, highlighted recent ransomware attacks in Nigeria that affected both public and private sector institutions, illustrating the economic and operational disruptions cyberattacks can cause.
She noted that even advanced economies continue to grapple with cybersecurity challenges, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often lack adequate protection against cyber threats.
Mrs Olagunju said the hackathon was playing an important role in developing local expertise and encouraging innovation-driven solutions to address the region’s cybersecurity needs.
She pointed to a significant milestone in this year’s competition, noting that the cybersecurity challenges were designed by Accra-based technology firm 00SEC rather than international companies.
“In earlier editions, hackathon challenges were developed by international firms. Today, we are proud that the challenges were created by an Accra-based company, a milestone that reflects the growing expertise within our region,” she said.
The hackathon forms part of ECOWAS efforts to strengthen regional cybersecurity capabilities, promote digital innovation and build a safer environment for businesses operating in West Africa’s increasingly digital economy.
