By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Côte
d’Ivoire has urged for a shift towards anticipatory, participatory and
data-driven digital regulation, urging African regulators to strike a balance
between consumer protection, innovation and investment as the continent
advances its digital transformation agenda.
The
call was made by the President of the Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory
Authority of Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI), Roger Adom, during a high-level meeting of
African regulators held on the sidelines of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva.
The
Ivorian delegation included ARTCI Regulatory Council members Isaac Gnamba-Yao,
Laure Besse and Mamadou Coulibaly, who joined counterparts from across Africa
to discuss the future of digital regulation on the continent.
Addressing
the meeting, Adom said regulators must adopt proportionate, progressive and
evidence-based regulatory approaches that encourage innovation while
safeguarding consumer interests and promoting investment.
He
emphasized that data should play a central role in regulatory decision-making,
enabling authorities to make objective, fact-based decisions and fostering
greater participation from stakeholders in the regulatory process.
According
to Adom, the evolving digital landscape requires regulators to move beyond
reactive approaches towards regulatory models that anticipate market
developments, encourage collaboration and build trust across the digital
ecosystem.
He
stressed that effective regulation is not about increasing the number of
regulatory interventions but ensuring that interventions are timely,
proportionate and aligned with the long-term interests of both the market and
consumers.
The
discussions formed part of broader engagements at the WSIS Forum 2026, where
regulators, policymakers and industry leaders are examining policy frameworks
to support inclusive digital transformation, innovation and sustainable
development.
Côte
d’Ivoire said its approach to digital regulation is guided by the objective of
protecting consumers while enabling innovation and strengthening confidence in
the continent's rapidly evolving digital economy.
