By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Ghana’s Minister for
Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has
been confirmed as Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on
Communication and ICT (AU STC-ICT) at its 6th Ordinary Session in Libreville,
Gabon.
In his opening address to
the ministerial session, George described the chairmanship as a responsibility
to the entire African Union, emphasising the need for stronger continental
cooperation to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
“I accept such
responsibility not as a privilege for one country, but as a duty to our entire
union,” he said.
George called for a decisive
shift from policy development to implementation, noting that Africa already has
key frameworks on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and data
governance, but needs greater collective commitment to put them into practice.
“What we have too often
lacked is the collective will to implement them at the pace that our people
demand,” he stated.
He identified connectivity,
data governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence as critical areas
requiring coordinated action, stressing that Africa must take a more active
role in shaping the global digital economy.
“When we negotiate alone, we
are 55 separate markets, but when we negotiate together, we are a market of
nearly 1.5 billion people,” he said.
He added that Africa must be
“at the table, not on the menu” in global discussions on artificial
intelligence, data and digital trade.
The minister also
underscored the importance of equipping Africa’s young population with the
skills and opportunities to innovate, citing Ghana’s One Million Coders
Programme as an example of what young people can achieve when given the right
tools.
Setting out his priorities
for the chairmanship, George pledged to build consensus, strengthen cooperation
and drive implementation across the continent.
“Over the next two years,
this committee must be measured not by the declarations that we adopt, but by
the results that we deliver,” he said.
He called on AU member
states to take bold decisions towards a shared digital future in which Africa
can operate as one digital market and speak with one digital voice.
