Communication Minister Calls for Continental Reset to Drive Africa’s Digital Transformation

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The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to pioneering Africa’s digital transformation, calling for a “continental reset” anchored in innovation, partnerships, and inclusion.

Speaking during the 10th anniversary of Mobex Africa in Accra, he stated that the continent stands at a historic crossroads, where it can either lead the global technological revolution or be shaped by it.

“This is the moment for a reset, a shift from digital dependence to digital determination, from consumption to creation. Africa must build infrastructure, regulate responsibly, and foster innovations that reflect the realities of its people,” he noted.

Mr. George highlighted key national efforts, including a $1 billion Ghana-UAE Tech and Innovation Hub in Dawa, which is set to host global giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple, as well as homegrown talents.

He mentioned the One Million Coders Programme, targeting AI and machine learning training for one million youth over four years, and the development of a National Data Exchange, a secure, interoperable platform to ensure seamless and trusted public-private data sharing.

He revealed that under President Mahama’s leadership, Ghana convened a Ministerial AI Bootcamp, one of only two such initiatives on the continent, emphasising Ghana’s ambition to become “the AI capital of West Africa.”

“AI is not a future ambition; it is a present-day mandate. Every Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) must be AI-ready. Data is the new oil and, dare I say, the new gold. But it must be governed by trust, policy, and foresight,” he stated.

Mr. George also announced that 15 new legislations are being prepared for Parliament by year-end to align Ghana’s ICT laws with the rapid evolution of global technology. These reforms aim to make Ghana’s regulatory environment agile, adaptive, and innovation-friendly.

The Minister congratulated the Mobex Africa team for a decade of digital leadership and urged them to continue building an ecosystem where “technology works for Africa and not the other way around.”

He called on entrepreneurs, regulators, academia, and civil society to align in action, not just in rhetoric.

“Let us build African infrastructure, not just towers, but platforms. Let us invest in innovation not as charity, but as strategy. Let us define Africa’s digital destiny not by default, but by design,” he said.

‎Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD