DJA–GAB 2025 Breakfast Forum

Strengthening Cyber Resilience in Ghana’s Banking Sector: Highlights from the DJA–GAB 2025 Breakfast Forum

On November 13, 2025, Digital Jewels Africa (DJA), in partnership with the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), hosted a high‑level Breakfast Forum at the Marriott Hotel in Accra. The event—“Aligning Cyber Strategy to Organizational Strategy – Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience in Ghana’s Banking Sector”—brought together 51 senior executives across Ghana’s financial ecosystem, including CIOs, CISOs, COOs, Operations Heads, Risk Managers, and representatives from the Bank of Ghana and the Cyber Security Authority.

The forum took place at a crucial moment as Ghana’s financial services sector continues to digitize rapidly, facing an increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape. It provided a strategic platform to align leadership thinking, deepen collaboration, and strengthen cyber governance across institutions.

Setting the Tone: Leadership, Regulation & Strategic Direction

The forum opened with remarks from Mr. John Awuah, CEO of GAB, who highlighted the need for sustained investments in cybersecurity technology, processes, and talent. Representatives of the Bank of Ghana and the Cyber Security Authority delivered keynote messages reinforcing regulatory expectations and national cybersecurity objectives.

DJA and the Cyber Security Authority delivered a comprehensive presentation covering:

Global trends in cyberattacks, including ransomware, supply‑chain attacks, and AI‑driven threats
Ghana’s rapidly evolving digital financial environment
The criticality of aligning cybersecurity with business priorities
Strengthening board oversight and governance structures

These insights set the stage for deep reflections on resilience, regulatory compliance, and the evolving responsibilities of technology and security leaders.

A Forum Highlight: “Operation Midnight Wire” Cyber Simulation

A key highlight of the event was the immersive cyber‑crisis simulation “Operation Midnight Wire”, facilitated by DJA’s CEO, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa. The simulation placed participants in the middle of a coordinated cyberattack targeting a bank’s digital channels and core banking systems.

Participants were challenged to make real‑time decisions on:

Incident detection and escalation
Internal and external communication
Regulatory notifications involving the BoG and Data Protection Commission
Business continuity and service restoration
Reputational risk management and media response
Technical containment and recovery

The exercise revealed strong analytical thinking and teamwork among participants, while also highlighting the need for clearer escalation paths, improved crisis communication, and enhanced testing of backup and failover systems.

Key Insights & Takeaways

Several strategic insights emerged from discussions and the simulation exercise:

Cyber threats are outpacing traditional defenses, requiring intelligence‑driven security models.
Executive leadership and board oversight remain central to building cyber resilience.
Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, especially around operational resilience and third‑party risk.
AI and automation present significant opportunities for improving detection and response.
Cross‑bank collaboration can significantly strengthen preparedness.
Incident response structures require clearer roles and more frequent testing.

Collaborative Value Delivered by DJA & GAB

The success of the Breakfast Forum was anchored in the strong partnership between DJA and GAB:

Strategic leadership:
DJA provided deep thought leadership, while GAB mobilized participation across the sector.
Capacity building:
The cyber simulation created a hands‑on learning experience that strengthened practical readiness.
Regulatory alignment:
The involvement of the Bank of Ghana and the Cyber Security Authority provided clarity on compliance expectations.
Operational excellence:
DJA managed technical content and event execution, while GAB ensured broad industry representation.

Collectively, over 51 leaders from more than 20 banks participated in strategic dialogue and left with actionable recommendations.

Recommendations for the Industry

For Banks

Conduct quarterly cyber simulation exercises.
Strengthen crisis communication and incident response playbooks.
Invest in continuous monitoring and threat intelligence.
Enhance staff awareness on social engineering and insider threats.
Update business continuity and disaster recovery frameworks.

For GAB

Facilitate regular industry knowledge‑sharing and threat intelligence exchanges.
Develop standardized cyber‑resilience benchmarks for the sector.

Looking Ahead

A joint debrief session between DJA and GAB is planned, along with follow‑up workshops to explore advanced cyber threats and deepen regulatory compliance. Feedback from participants reflected a desire for more frequent simulation‑based learning engagements, signalling the sector’s commitment to improvement.

Conclusion

The 2025 DJA–GAB Breakfast Forum reinforced the importance of cybersecurity as a strategic business enabler. As threats continue to evolve, Ghana’s banking sector is demonstrating strong momentum toward strengthening resilience, enhancing governance, and deepening collaboration.

Digital Jewels Africa and the Ghana Association of Banks remain committed to supporting this journey through continuous engagement, capability‑building, and strategic guidance.