Ghana calls for Africa to shape its digital future

The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mr. Mohammed Adam Sukparu has urged Africa to move from being passive consumers of technology to active creators and regulators of its digital future.

Speaking at the 19th eLearning Africa Conference in Accra, the Minister said Africa must take control of its data, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to ensure they reflect African realities and priorities.

According to him, Ghana’s hosting of the high-level gathering was “not simply about convening a conference, but making a bold statement that Africa is ready to lead the global digital conversation.”

He acknowledged progress across the continent, with connectivity expanding and digital solutions increasingly deployed in education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance. However, he cautioned that much of the infrastructure remains externally developed and controlled.

“Most of the digital systems that run our economies were built outside Africa, by people outside Africa, for purposes that do not always put Africa first,” he said, raising concerns about data sovereignty and algorithmic bias.

Mr. Sukparu noted that trust in digital systems depends not only on safeguards like cybersecurity and data protection, but also on whether platforms reflect local languages and realities. He warned that poorly adapted technologies risk widening inequality and eroding public confidence.

Turning to AI, the Deputy Minister cautioned against uncritical adoption of foreign-built tools in African education systems, citing risks of bias and misalignment.

“Who answers when an AI system gets a child’s future wrong?” he asked, underscoring governments’ responsibility for ethical deployment.

Mr. Sukparu disclosed that Ghana has launched its National AI Strategy and is working to establish an AI Computing Centre and a national Data Hub to strengthen digital sovereignty.