TITLE:
Cyber Diplomacy and Data Security Challenges in Ghana’s Foreign Service
AUTHORS:
Perry Opoku Agyeman, David Laud Amenyo Fiase
KEYWORDS:
Cyber Diplomacy, Data Security, Foreign Service, Ghana, Cybersecurity Governance, Digital Diplomacy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Computer and Communications,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study examines the state of cyber diplomacy and data security within Ghana’s foreign service, responding to growing global concerns about securing diplomatic communication in an evolving cyber threat landscape. Guided by four objectives, the research assesses the operationalization of cyber diplomacy, identifies data security vulnerabilities, evaluates institutional and policy gaps, and draws comparative insights to inform strategic recommendations. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining a survey of 18 Ghanaian diplomatic missions, interviews with seven senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, and document analysis of 15 national and institutional cybersecurity policies. The findings reveal that Ghana’s cyber diplomacy is at a nascent stage, with significant operational and institutional limitations. Seventy-two percent of missions rely on unencrypted email systems, 61% operate on outdated ICT infrastructure, and only 33% use multi-factor authentication. Institutional gaps were also prominent: only 11% of missions have trained IT personnel, 72% lack cyber focal points, and 83% of staff report insufficient policy guidance. The study further shows weak coordination between diplomatic missions and domestic cybersecurity agencies, with only 17% reporting active engagement. Comparative analysis with AU, ECOWAS, EU, Estonia, and Rwanda demonstrates that Ghana lags behind global and regional best practices. The study concludes that strengthening institutional capacity, modernizing policy frameworks, and enhancing technical safeguards are essential to safeguard Ghana’s diplomatic communications and reinforce its cyber diplomacy posture.