CSA to chair Network of African Cybersecurity Authorities

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has been chosen to head the African Network of Cybersecurity Authorities (ANCA) – a group created by Smart Africa to enhance cybersecurity coordination in Africa.

ANCA brings together various African cybersecurity authorities and agencies from different regions to establish a platform for collaboration. The goal is to facilitate exchanges among members and amplify Africa’s voice in global cybersecurity discussions.

Currently, it consists of 17 members representing countries like Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Tunisia.

Ghana was elected as Chair of ANCA, with Morocco confirmed as Vice Chair, at a meeting in Accra during the first-ever Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B).

The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Smart Africa Secretariat will form the ANCA Bureau, responsible for governance, the action plan and advocating for members’ interests. Ghana’s election as leader underscores its increasing role in cybersecurity leadership on the continent.

Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director-General-Cyber Security Authority and newly-appointed Chair of the Network, outlined Ghana’s vision for the African Network of Cybersecurity Authorities (ANCA).

The vision emphasises Ghana’s commitment to providing leadership in cybersecurity matters across the African continent.

As inaugural Chair of the Network, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako highlighted key priorities. These include establishing an effective governance structure for the network; increasing the membership beyond the current 17 countries; creating a platform for operational exchanges and practical cooperation among members; and exploring funding models and partnerships to support cybersecurity development in member-countries and across the continent.

Additionally, the priorities involve contributing to Smart Africa’s flagship initiatives as the continental advisory body on cybersecurity matters and representing Africa’s perspective on cybersecurity in global discussions, among other objectives.

The SMART Africa Initiative

The SMART Africa initiative is a commitment by African heads of state and government to boost sustainable development on the continent. Its goal is to turn Africa into a knowledge-economy by ensuring affordable access to broadband and using information and communication technologies.

Launched at the Transform Africa Summit in 2013, the initiative began with seven countries adopting the Smart Africa Manifesto. Now, all 53 African countries support it – with 39 actively participating.

The Smart Africa Alliance, involving various organisations and stakeholders, oversees the manifesto’s implementation and monitoring.

The initiative is built on five pillars: policy, access, e-governance, private sector/entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

These pillars are reinforced by four enablers: innovation, communications and advocacy, capacity building, and resource mobilisation.

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