'Era of artificial intelligence will not wait for us' – World Bank Group

Mr Sangbu Kim, World Bank Group Vice President for Digital and Artificial Intelligence, has disclosed that artificial intelligence has pushed the world into a critical moment.

“The era of artificial intelligence will not wait for us. The choices countries make today regarding investment, governance, and inclusion will determine who benefits from this transformation,” he said.

Mr Kim said in a statement delivered at the end of a regional summit held on November 17–18, 2025, in Benin, attended by ministers responsible for digital affairs from West and Central African countries and made available to the Modern Ghana News in Accra.

The summit adopted the Cotonou Declaration, signalling their strong commitment to accelerating digital transformation in the region.

Mr Kim noted that the goal of the World Bank Group is clear: “to work alongside countries to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a driver of shared prosperity and to shape a future where Africa leads in digital innovation, inclusion, and job creation."

Mr Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice President for West and Central Africa, noted that the success of the Cotonou Declaration depends on two imperatives.

He identified the two imperatives as better coordination among donors and partners to align and channel resources effectively and better joint communication of successes and progress to strengthen political buy-in, attract more investment, and create a virtuous regional dynamic.

Mr Diagana said to this end, Digital Compacts will serve as strategic platforms for commitments from all partners—public and private—around a shared vision.

He said they will enable better coordination and targeting of public and private financing to achieve countries’ priority objectives for digital and AI, galvanise political leadership, and thus deliver greater impact for populations, the informal sector, and businesses.

Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, Senior Minister and Minister of Planning and Development, Republic of Benin, in his opening remarks noted that "Digital technology has become a major accelerator of productivity, a lever of competitiveness, and an infinite space for innovation.

He acknowledged that its impact is particularly decisive in Africa, where the youth are entering the labour market en masse.

“Africa is no longer just a consumer: it is becoming a creator, an innovator, and an influential player in the global digital economy. In this dynamic, Benin has made a deliberate choice: to make digital technology a central pillar of its economic transformation."

Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, Minister of Digital and Digitalisation, Republic of Benin, said digital is no longer a choice; it is an economic, social, and strategic necessity.

“But no strategy can thrive without a shared vision and a strong alliance between states, the private sector, civil society, and youth. This synergy is the true invisible infrastructure that makes inclusive and sustainable digital transformation possible."

The ministers responsible for digital affairs from Western and Central African countries committed to accelerating digital transformation to ensure broadband access, develop artificial intelligence capabilities, create digital jobs, and build an integrated market by 2030.

At the conclusion of the regional summit in Benin, the ministers adopted the Cotonou Declaration, signalling their strong commitment to accelerating digital transformation in the region.