Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, called for more investment to close Africa’s digital divide at the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, his ministry said.
He said more than half of Africa’s population remained offline in 2026, and called for an ITU strategic plan for 2027 to 2030 with measurable results, including investment in last-mile connectivity and fair access to spectrum and satellite orbits.
What is Ghana doing on the digital divide?
George said Ghana was building a National AI Compute Centre for research and enterprise and running a One Million Coders initiative to train people in digital skills. He cited Ghana’s Tier 1 rating in the ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index and offered to share its experience with computer emergency response teams and child online protection.
What does Ghana want from the ITU?
He sought support for Ghana’s re-election to the ITU Council for Region D and for the re-election of Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, director-general of the National Communications Authority, to the Radio Regulations Board. DNE Africa covers African tech policy, including ECOWAS plans for a biometric ID card.
FAQ
How many Africans are offline?
More than half of Africa’s population, according to the minister.
What is the One Million Coders initiative?
A Ghanaian programme to train people in coding and digital skills.
Where is the ITU conference?
The 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference is in Doha, Qatar.
