Vice President Naana Jane Opoku‑Agyemang urged African governments to forge a common digital governance agenda at the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026) in Accra, stressing the need to bridge the digital divide and safeguard the continent’s future.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the professor highlighted that decisions on digital technologies will shape commerce, education and individual freedoms across Africa.
The forum, themed “Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion and Trust,” gathered governments, tech experts, civil society and youth to discuss internet governance and digital policy.
Ghana is already taking steps to narrow the divide, including distributing digital devices to universities and developing a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Opoku‑Agyemang noted that closing the gap requires more than network coverage; it demands affordability, accessibility and the skills needed to use digital tools.
She also stressed that safety, privacy and educational rights of children and young people must remain central to digital policy.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George echoed the call for Africa to take ownership of its digital future, urging the continent to shape technological development to serve its interests.
Quoting Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, George said, “We face neither east nor west, we face forward,” and called for digital solutions that reflect African realities rather than imported models.
He outlined priorities such as connectivity, affordable devices, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data protection, child online safety and national language AI models, adding that unity does not mean conformity but a shared voice on common goals and standards.
Ghana will chair the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communications and ICT from 2026 to 2028, positioning the country as a key player in shaping the continent’s digital trajectory.
The forum aligns with global discussions on internet governance and the 20‑year review of the World Summit on the Information Society and the Global Digital Compact.
