Ghana has been ranked with a Tier 1 status in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The five-tier system of the GCI are ; Tier 5 – Building, Tier 5 – Evolving, Tier 3 – Establishing, Tier 2 – Advancing and Tier 1 – Role Modelling with Tier 1 being the highest ranked Tier of the Index.
This new 5-tiered ranking system categorises countries into different tiers based on their cybersecurity measures. Ghana’s placement in the Role Modelling category signifies that it is a leader in cybersecurity practices, serving as a benchmark for other nations.
This is crucial as it highlights Ghana’s advanced cybersecurity framework and its ability to set a high standard for others to follow, setting the basis for sustained cybersecurity activities to protect and secure Ghana’s developing digital ecosystem.
The remarkable score of 99.27%, makes Ghana the second highest-scoring country on the African continent, after Mauritius. Ghana is also one of five African countries to achieve the Tier 1; Role modelling status and among 46 countries worldwide that fall in this category.
The score of 99.27% indicates that Ghana improved upon its ratings under the different pillars compared to the 2020 GCI rankings in which Ghana was rated at 86.69%, placing it third in Africa after Mauritius and Tanzania.
The GCI evaluates countries across five strategic pillars: Legal Measures, Technical Measures, Organizational Measures, Capacity Building, and Cooperation.
Ghana’s role model status in the GCI is a testament to its leadership in several key areas, which other countries are learning from. These include the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), protection of Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs), child cybersecurity and cybercrime reporting mechanisms, among others.
This achievement reflects Ghana’s unwavering commitment to securing its cyberspace and ensuring a resilient digital infrastructure. Ghana’s Tier 1 status signifies that it is a role model in global cybersecurity practices, showcasing proactive measures and leadership in the cybersecurity domain.
Sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria and Cameroon are currently in Tier 3, indicating they are still establishing key cybersecurity initiatives. Ghana’s leading position underscores the need for continued attention to areas such as capacity development, which remains crucial for sustaining the progress made.
Despite scoring highly in four out of five areas, Ghana’s score in Capacity Development reflects a need for increased funding and support in both public and private sectors to enhance overall cybersecurity capacity development.
