With Africa losing US$4 billion annually to cybercrime, the aggressors of the digital realm are gaining the upper hand. GITEX AFRICA 2024 (www.GITEXAfrica.com), the continent’s largest tech and startup exhibition, taking place from 29-31 May in Marrakech, Morocco, provides a platform for leaders and executives of Africa’s tech ecosystem to share insights on cybersecurity’s crucial role in Africa’s digital economy.

Cybersecurity Threats Accompany Digital Transformation

As Ghana’s digital economy continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with an ever-increasing reliance on digital infrastructure, so too does the inevitable exposure to cybersecurity and data protection threats. Acknowledging the paramount importance of cybersecurity and its role in protecting sensitive information, preserving trust, and contributing to the resilience of digital infrastructure, Ghana is proactively and strategically working to enhance its cyber resilience.

This strategic insight has resulted in the Global Cybersecurity Index ranking Ghana third amongst countries on the continent in terms of its commitment to cybersecurity.

Topics under discussion at the GITEX Africa Cybersecurity Forum include the role of high data costs in security vulnerability, Africa’s shortage of cybersecurity professionals, and the impact of poor security measures. Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director General of Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, will share his insights on how Ghana is tackling these challenges.

A Proactive Approach to Safeguarding Digital Infrastructure

As early as 2015, the Ghanaian government developed the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, reflecting the maturity of the country’s approach. In the following years, recognizing the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the country’s 24 million internet users (https://apo-opa.co/3JSm8sr#prId=302858), Ghana has implemented a number of key steps, including enacting the Cybersecurity Act 2020, which provides for the protection of critical information infrastructure, the prosecution of cybercrimes, and the protection of children online. This Act is a significant step towards creating a safer cyber environment in Ghana, and has resulted in the establishment of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) (https://apo-opa.co/4buq3r9#prId=302858), which regulates and promotes cybersecurity in the country.

Building capacity and creating public awareness, ongoing research and development, and international cooperation are key elements of Ghana’s cybersecurity strategy. This includes developing a skilled workforce of cybersecurity professionals, and educating the public about the importance of cybersecurity and how they can mitigate it. This takes the form of workshops, seminars, and media campaigns. Universities and research institutions in Ghana are also focusing on cybersecurity research to foster innovation and develop solutions to cyber threats. In addition, collaborations with other countries, international organizations, and private sector entities all contribute to the country’s cyber resilience.

As Ghana continues to strengthen its cybersecurity framework, its potential as a destination for partners and investors looking for a reliable and safe digital landscape grows, positioning the country as a hub for technological advancement in Africa.

Powering Ghana’s digital future

The tens of thousands of attendees from 130-plus countries to GITEX Africa can look forward to hearing more insights on Ghana’s advancements in digital health from Darlington Akogo, Co-founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, who is among more than 20 leading tech speakers from Ghana.

The nation’s giant strides in AI diffusion and tech-driven urban development will also come to the fore when Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly takes the stage at the GITEX Africa Digital Summit.

Rocky Dawuni, Musician, Singer-song Writer, and UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, is another headline Ghanaian speaker, while the country’s vibrant start-up scene will be ably represented by some of the country’s premier award-winning start-ups, including Trotro Tractor, Winner of the KIC Agritech Challenge.

More information is available at www.GITEXAfrica.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

Media Contact: 
Tayce Marchesi – PR Executive 
Tel.: + 971 58 552 3994 
Tayce.Marchesi@dwtc.com 

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Website: www.GITEXAfrica.com

About KAOUN International:
KAOUN International is the independent events company and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) established to organize and manage events internationally. Derived from the Arabic word ‘universe’, KAOUN International’s mission is to ‘Create Limitless Connections’ for the industries and markets in which it operates. Created to leverage the 40-year legacy of DWTC’s events management business and drive future MICE sector opportunity in the MENASA region. KAOUN International delivers game-changing live experiences that build robust business connections, create opportunity, and stimulate economic growth, building on DWTC’s extensive portfolio of business and consumer events spanning multiple sectors, including technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricAFC.org), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, in partnership with Italy’s national development finance institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A (CDP) yesterday announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets out to elevate Italian-African business collaboration, contributing to sustainable growth and prosperity on a global scale.

AFC and CDP signed their commitment yesterday at the Italy-Africa Business Dialogue Forum in Rome. The strategic alliance endeavours to bolster African infrastructure, harness natural resources, and propel industrial development through shared expertise and enhanced financial cooperation, while fostering the internationalisation of Italian businesses and expanding their global footprint.

The two institutions will work together to identify and engage in future partnerships and co-financing opportunities in development and infrastructure projects with governments, companies and financial entities. The institutions will create a shared platform to foster dialogue between Italian and African companies in AFC’s member countries.

Samaila Zubairu, President&Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said: “This strategic MoU with CDP marks a pivotal step in expanding our impact throughout Africa by utilising our extensive connections to international capital and expertise. By combining our resources and networks, we are poised to expand our record of transformative projects to catalyse sustainable development and economic advancement across the region.”

Paolo Lombardo, International Development Cooperation Director at CDP, said: “This agreement is key for both institutions and crucial to foster synergies in the broader global development arena.  Partnering with AFC, with its unique track record of transformational infrastructure, enhances support for companies and investors striving for Africa-focused growth and economic integration.”

Building on a robust partnership that started with a significant EUR 100 million loan agreement in 2022 to fuel renewable energy and climate-resilient projects and continued with a EUR 50 million loan announced at COP28 for further sustainable development projects, this MOU reinforces these financial engagements and expands the scope of cooperation through new initiatives that promise to enhance Africa’s economic and environmental landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception. www.AfricAFC.org

About CDP: 
CDP is the Italian National Promotional Institution and the Financial Institution for International Development Cooperation entrusted by the Italian State to foster the sustainable development of Italy and of developing countries and emerging markets. CDP supports economic growth, social inclusiveness and ecological transition by investing in innovation, business competitiveness, infrastructures and local development, having allowed in 2023 the activation of investments worth a total of 20,1 billion euros (1.4% of Italy’s GDP), of which 83% dedicate to sustainable project, also thanks to the attraction of resources from third-party investors and co-financiers.

ICD (http://www.ICD-ps.org) and Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan signed an Expression of Intent for the USD 10 million Line of Financing Facility aimed at supporting eligible private sector projects in Uzbekistan; This agreement initiates a partnership between ICD and JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, reflecting ICD’s strategic commitment to bolstering private sector growth within its member nations.

At the 3rd Tashkent Investment Forum, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, formalized an expression of intent to partner to collaborate in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fostering economic growth in Uzbekistan.

Through this partnership, ICD will provide JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan with a Line of Financing (LoF) facility, to fund private sector projects as an agent of ICD. This initiative is poised to significantly boost the SME landscape in Uzbekistan by equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to initiate and grow projects that meaningfully contribute to the national economy.

Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, now a strategic partner for ICD, stands out as a prominent commercial bank with foreign capital. The new LoF facility not only marks the commencement of collaboration between the two entities, but also underscores ICD’s dedication to advancing the private sector within its member countries, further solidifying its role in spurring economic development across the Islamic world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

For further details, please contact:
Nabil El-Alami
Communications&Corporate Marketing Division head 
Nalami@isdb.org

About JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan:
The Uzbek-Turkish Bank – Ziraat Bank has been actively working in the country for 20 years, and the Republic of Uzbekistan has long been successfully cooperating with business circles of various countries of the world demonstrating itself as the country with a rapidly developing modern commercial industry. 

The Bank belongs to a universal category of banks that are active in the corporate segment. This refers to lending to companies, and above all, joint Uzbek-Turkish companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, private entrepreneurship, conducting and executing export-import operations.

The Bank with its 6 branches and banking services offices across the country, it has been providing the financial services to all entrepreneurs and individuals in Uzbekistan. For more information on Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan visit: https://www.ZiraatBank.Uz/en.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICD’s mandate is to support economic development and promote the growth of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments in accordance with Shariah principles. Additionally, ICD offers advisory services to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion, and modernization of private enterprises.  ICD is rated ‘A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A+’ by Fitch, and ‘A-’ by S&P.

Global provider of network services, and digital solutions, Angola Cables is partnering with Cameroon’s incumbent telecommunications operator, Camtel to expand digital and connectivity services in Cameroon and the West Africa region.

The agreement follows an intent by both parties to develop business opportunities in West Africa and the Atlantic region to boost redundancy, network resilience and the quality of services (QoS) both nationally and internationally. Taking advantage of the extensive subsea cable connections of SACS, WACS, and Monet within the robust backhaul network of Angola Cables – and the added connectivity provided by Camtel on the South Atlantic Inter Link (SAIL), businesses and enterprises will have extended capacity options with a better traffic access to West Africa local and regional networks through Angola Cables and Camtel’s Points of Presence (PoPs).

“The partnership once the necessary due diligence has been completed, could transform internet connectivity and data transmission in West Africa,” so says Fernando Fernandes, Country Manager of TelCables Nigeria, a subsidiary of Angola Cables.

CAMTEL CEO, Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi said, “Our strategic intent is to build on the robust backhaul connectivity of the Angola Cables network, and the existing interconnections we have in place with other submarine cables connecting the region and the world, to provide flexible and secure value added services for our clients and businesses.”

The agreement signifies an important step in advancing telecoms and digital connectivity in Africa. “For users, it will help to secure connectivity, trade, boost economies and help expand as well as grow businesses across the region,” concluded Fernandes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Angola Cables.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
About Angola Cables:
Angola Cables is an internationally established ICT and digital solutions and network services provider, and has been ranked as the most interconnected operator* on the African continent. Through our integrated IP networks, and data centres, we provide extensive, low-latency, direct access connectivity to the largest IXPs, Tier 1 operators, and global content providers.

Through our owned, high-capacity SACS, Monet, WACS, and third-party submarine cable networks, the company directly connects to more than 20 Points of Presence, and Internet Exchange Points in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Angola Cables also operates two data centres, AngoNAP Fortaleza Tier III (Brazil), and the data centre, AngoNAP Luanda (Angola). The company also manages PIX in Brazil and Angonix Angola – one of the largest Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Africa. Through our partners, and resellers in selected markets we offer advanced, and secure connectivity solutions, and services to a range of customers across multiple industries.   

 *The Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA) 2022 

For more information, please visit: www.AngolaCables.co.ao

About CAMTEL:
Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), created in 1998, is the fully owned state telecom operator, and national lead provider of Carrier, Fixed, and Mobile broadband including ICT&digital solutions. Its 25 years of existence is garnered with a fleet of competitive, and tailored telecom services implemented by a host of experienced professionals from varied fields.

CAMTEL owns, and operates resilient networks including: a robust national backbone fiber connectivity with the CEMAC region including Nigeria, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea through its multiple submarine cables (SAIL, WACS, SAT3 and NCSCS) landing at 03 stations with Gateways, a Tier III designed Data Centre in Yaounde – Zamengoe, and 03 Satellite ground stations. CAMTEL is also at the heart of the West to East Africa initiative – WE-Africa-NA – a high-speed digital corridor connecting the Gulf of Guinea to the Horn of Africa.

For more information, please visit: www.CAMTEL.cm/

About TelCables West Africa:
TelCables West Africa is a Nigerian provider of network services and digital solutions and is the local operation for Nigeria and West Africa countries of Angola Cables, an internationally established ICT multinational ranked* as the number 33 operator in the world.

The company also provides a wide range offer of Cloud and integration services, IP networks and integrated access to worldwide to data centres, which provide direct, comprehensive, and low-latency access connectivity to the largest IXPs, Tier 1 operators and global content providers.   

The company specializes in connectivity and IT solutions and services as well as the commercialisation of international data circuit capacity and IP Transit via submarine cables.

Our shared values and mission are to provide secure and low-latency connectivity to companies from West Africa to worldwide users. Our proven track record and dedicated team of IT and network professionals are here to partner you in expanding and advancing the capabilities of your network and business.

As the most connected network operator in Africa, we provide direct routings from West Africa to the USA and South America and from West Africa to London at the lowest latency. With our presence across several Nigerian IP hubs from Lekki, WACS CLS, Medallion DC, Rack Centre and others, and connections across Africa via the Djoliba network, we can connect your business to the world.