The 2026 ECOWAS Regional Hackathon has officially opened in Accra, bringing together young cybersecurity talents, developers, researchers, and innovators from 12 West African countries for a high-stakes digital innovation challenge.

Hosted by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), the event is taking place from June 8 to 11 and aims to identify, train, and nurture the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while strengthening regional digital resilience.

Participants drawn from Benin, Guinea, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo are currently engaged in the competition, where teams are tasked with developing practical and scalable solutions to address cybersecurity threats across the sub-region.

The hackathon features 48 hours of intensive collaboration and problem-solving, with teams working under pressure to design innovative responses to real-world cyber challenges facing governments, institutions, and digital systems in West Africa.

Organisers say the event underscores growing regional cooperation in cybersecurity and reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger, more secure digital ecosystem across ECOWAS member states.

The Accra edition is expected to highlight emerging talent and position Ghana as a key hub for cybersecurity innovation in the sub-region.