e-Crime Bureau, Smart Africa partner to boost cybersecurity in Africa

The agreement, signed in Accra on November 2, 2026, on the sidelines of the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), seeks to support the development of a stronger and more resilient cybersecurity ecosystem across the continent.

The partnership will focus on three key areas: people, processes and technology, with particular attention to building cybersecurity expertise, improving governance and risk management, and developing solutions to protect Africa’s digital environment.

Under the people component, the two institutions will collaborate to develop Africa’s cybersecurity workforce and skills while promoting cooperation among the private sector, governments and international partners.

On processes, the partnership will support stronger governance and risk management systems, including the protection of critical information infrastructure, as well as the harmonisation of legal and policy frameworks across the continent.

The technology component will focus on developing and deploying innovative solutions to safeguard Africa’s growing digital ecosystem.Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa, Mr Lacina Koné, said the continent’s digital transformation depended on the strength of the systems established to protect it.

He said cybersecurity required collective responsibility, stronger cooperation, coordinated action and sustained investment in people and institutions.

Through the partnership, he said, the two organisations would work to strengthen cybersecurity expertise, improve institutional coordination and advance the protection of critical digital infrastructure across Africa.

He reaffirmed Smart Africa’s commitment to working with e-Crime Bureau and its partners to achieve the objectives of the agreement.Global expansion

The partnership follows e-Crime Bureau’s restructuring into a global cybersecurity consulting firm, with operations hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The restructuring, approved by the company’s Board of Directors in 2026 under its Transition and Growth Strategy, builds on its 15 years of experience and is intended to expand its services to clients across international markets, particularly in the three regions.

The firm’s European hub, based in Como, Italy, will focus on standards, certifications, regulatory best practices, research, innovation and technology partnerships, while coordinating engagements with development partners.The Middle East hub will lead business development and service delivery, while the African hub, based in Accra, will concentrate on talent and skills development to support the company’s global operations.

The Executive Chairman of e-Crime Bureau, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said the expansion and partnership with Smart Africa marked a new chapter in the company’s development.

He explained that the global hubs would connect expertise, talent, experience, insights and technology to provide clients with comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, regardless of their location.

Working with Smart Africa and its partners, he said, the company was committed to advancing cybersecurity development across the continent by building the skills, infrastructure and resilience needed to support Africa’s digital economy.

The partnership is expected to combine Smart Africa’s continental digital development initiatives with e-Crime Bureau’s cybersecurity expertise to advance innovation, strengthen institutional capacity and improve digital security across Africa.