Africa urged to unite on digital governance agenda

African nations must collaborate on a unified digital governance strategy to bridge the digital divide and secure the continent's future, according to Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. The Vice President, speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, emphasized that decisions surrounding digital technology would significantly impact commerce, education, and personal freedoms across Africa.

Addressing the opening of the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026) in Accra, Opoku-Agyemang advocated for a united African approach to promoting digital inclusion, innovation, and trust. The forum, themed "Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion and Trust," convened governments, technology experts, civil society organizations, and young individuals to discuss internet governance and digital policy.

Ghana, under Vice President Opoku-Agyemang's leadership, is taking steps to reduce the digital gap, such as distributing digital devices to universities and drafting a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. She highlighted that bridging the digital divide necessitates addressing affordability, accessibility, and the necessary skills to utilize digital technologies effectively.

Moreover, she underscored that children's, youth's, safety, privacy, and educational rights must remain paramount in any digital policy. Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, urged Africa to assume control of its digital destiny, asserting that the continent must define its digital governance and technological progress to align with its interests.

Drawing inspiration from Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, George reiterated that Africa must look ahead, not east or west. He recommended the development of digital solutions tailored to Africa's unique circumstances, rather than adopting foreign models. Key areas of focus, as identified by George, include connectivity, affordable devices, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data protection, child online safety, and the creation of national language models for artificial intelligence.

George emphasized that unity does not imply uniformity, and each country could pursue its own path while maintaining common goals, standards, and a collective voice. The Minister also announced Ghana's readiness to chair the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communications and ICT from 2026 to 2028. The forum contributes to continental preparations for global discussions on internet governance and aligns with the 20th anniversary review of the World Summit on the Information Society and the Global Digital Compact.