The Pan-African Institute for Strategic Studies (PAISS) – Ghana
We are a nonpartisan, independent institute advancing practical solutions for Ghana and West Africa across cybersecurity, criminal justice, homeland security & emergency preparedness, and public policy. We help government partners, international donors, and academic collaborators turn frameworks into results.
Who We Are
PAISS-Ghana is a nonpartisan research and policy institute dedicated to improving decision-making through objective analysis, capacity building, and actionable guidance for Ghana and the wider West African sub-region. Inspired by the best practices of leading global institutes, we pair rigorous methods with a Ghana-first lens.
We maintain research integrity, publish clear methods notes, and design outputs that agencies can apply immediately— from standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists to drill scripts and policy briefs.
Why We Exist
Ghana’s governance landscape is evolving rapidly—from cybersecurity and data protection to disaster risk management. Institutions need independent, evidence-based support to translate national frameworks into day-to-day practice across ministries, agencies, local government, and critical sectors.
We align our work with Ghana’s legal and institutional architecture (e.g., Cyber Security Authority under the Cybersecurity Act, Data Protection Commission, NADMO) while accounting for sub-regional dynamics, cross-border threats, and donor priorities.
We Address
- Operationalizing national strategies & regulatory requirements
- Bridging capacity gaps through training and exercises
- Designing measurable, donor-ready implementation plans
- Translating research into policy options and SOPs
What We Do
Research & Analysis
- Independent studies, policy briefs, program evaluations
- Regulatory and risk analyses; options memos for decision-makers
- Baseline, midline, and endline assessments for donor programs
Training & Public Education
- Practitioner courses and executive workshops
- Tabletop and functional exercises; after-action reviews
- Cyber hygiene, data protection, and crisis communication
Advisory & Consultancy
- Readiness & maturity assessments (cyber, data protection, resilience)
- Process reviews across police-justice-courts and emergency systems
- Implementation roadmaps with KPIs, budgets, and timelines
Our Approach
Independent & Nonpartisan
We separate analysis from advocacy, publish clear methods, and invite peer review to strengthen quality.
Ghana-First, Africa-Aware
We center Ghana’s laws and institutions while integrating West African and global best practices.
Practice-Oriented
We deliver checklists, SOPs, drills, and toolkits that teams can use tomorrow morning.
Ethics & Rights
We balance security with privacy, data protection, civil liberties, and community trust.
Areas of Expertise
Cybersecurity & Digital Trust
- National/sector cyber strategy; critical information infrastructure protection
- Incident response planning; CSIRT playbooks; awareness campaigns
- Data protection compliance and privacy risk management
Criminal Justice
- Police-community trust, procedural justice, accountability mechanisms
- Technology governance: data, digital evidence, body-worn cameras
- Justice sector performance reviews and reform options
Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
- Risk and resilience planning aligned with national disaster frameworks
- EOC design, drills, and multi-agency coordination
- Community-level preparedness and crisis communications
Public Policy & Governance
- Policy design, regulatory analysis, and impact assessment
- Program management support for donor-funded initiatives
- Strategic communications and stakeholder engagement
Our Impact
Officials & practitioners trained through workshops and exercises
Policy briefs, options memos, and SOPs informing institutional practice
Community engagements on cyber hygiene and preparedness
Partners
We collaborate with ministries and agencies, regional bodies, universities, professional associations, NGOs, and private-sector leaders to deliver results at scale. Examples include regulatory authorities, disaster management agencies, and academic centers across Ghana and West Africa.
Work With Us
For Government Partners
- Co-design regulations, SOPs, and implementation roadmaps
- Run tabletop/functional exercises; build EOC capacity
- Develop cyber awareness and data protection programs
For International Donors
- Local diagnostics to de-risk programming and align with national systems
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) with clear KPIs
- Grants & procurement support; implementer due diligence
For Academic Collaborators
- Joint research, data collection, and policy labs
- Student practicums and executive education modules
- Peer review and methods clinics for applied studies
Contact & Next Steps
Ready to partner, request a training, or commission a study? Let’s co-design a solution for your organization. Share your objectives and timeline, and we’ll respond with a tailored proposal.
Prefer a formal RFP? Send your terms of reference—our team will map deliverables, timelines, and budget.