The Acting Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, delivered a compelling address as Special Guest Speaker at the 8th edition of Risk Summit Africa, held on Wednesday, 23rd July 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. The Summit, organised by Sapient Envision, convened top executives, governance professionals, cybersecurity experts, and compliance practitioners under the theme “The Future of Risk: Strengthening Governance, Compliance, and Cyber Resilience for Sustainable Growth.”
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte used the occasion to underscore the critical interdependence between risk management and sound governance, particularly within the public sector. Drawing from SIGA’s oversight of Specified Entities (SEs) whose combined balance sheets account for nearly a third of Ghana’s GDP, he highlighted key insights shaping SIGA’s approach to risk.
In his remarks, the Director-General stated, “Governance and risk are inseparable twins. Weak governance magnifies every threat, from market volatility to cyber intrusion, while strong, transparent governance converts uncertainty into opportunity.”
He emphasized that SIGA has embedded risk indicators in its performance contracts with the SEs and instituted quarterly assurance processes to promote ethics, transparency, and value-for-money practices. These measures have led to improved investor confidence and service delivery.
Speaking on the increasing importance of cyber resilience, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte warned of the expanded threat landscape brought on by Ghana’s digital transformation drive, noting that integrated Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) systems must become standard practice, and that a culture of cybersecurity must begin from the boardroom and reach every employee.
The Risk Summit Africa 2025 brought together stakeholders from finance, insurance, cybersecurity, health, and other sectors and provided a platform for participants to engage in high-level discussions on emerging risks, compliance trends, and innovative resilience strategies.