Ghana Urges African AI Governance to Shape Global Rules

Ghana's digital minister is urging African nations to actively shape African AI governance and global internet rules through stronger regional representation, local innovation, and improved policy coordination. By moving beyond being passive consumers of technology, the continent aims to become a key architect of the global digital future.

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George made the call on November 1 at the closing ceremony of the 2026 African School of Internet Governance (AfriSIG) in Accra.

Also Read: Dubai Unveils ASCEND, AI Tool for Public Finance Oversight 

He urged African governments and digital policy stakeholders to move beyond simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere and instead become active participants in setting global rules.

The minister's remarks come as Ghana hosts the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), running from November 2–5 in Accra. The forum brings together policymakers, technology leaders, and civil society to discuss AI, cybersecurity, and data governance.

Prioritizing African AI Governance

For Africa, the issue goes beyond having representatives at international meetings. It is about ensuring that the continent's languages, data, economic interests, and technological priorities are reflected in the systems and policies shaping the global digital economy.

One of George's main concerns is how AI systems developed without sufficient African data could misrepresent the continent or reinforce existing inequalities. Many AI systems are currently trained using datasets that do not adequately reflect African populations or cultural contexts.

This concern grows as AI enters sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, and public administration. Systems that fail to account for local conditions may produce unreliable results or exclude communities whose languages and experiences are poorly represented in their training data.

Building Infrastructure and Local Capacity

George called for greater investment in digital skills, computing capacity, data infrastructure, and local innovation. He also stressed the importance of data protection frameworks to ensure AI development occurs within appropriate safeguards.

For African technology companies, this creates a significant opportunity. Developing locally relevant datasets and AI applications could help address gaps in existing systems while giving African innovators a stronger role in the global ecosystem.

The minister also argued that African countries need a more coordinated approach to international policy discussions. He identified the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as vital channels for influencing global standards.

Unified Representation and Digital Skills

A unified position could give African countries greater influence in discussions around AI regulation and cross-border digital services. Without stronger coordination, individual countries may struggle to compete when negotiating with larger technology markets.

George's call also reflects his new role chairing the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT. This position provides an opportunity to advance shared digital priorities across member states.

Beyond international representation, George highlighted Ghana's efforts to build digital skills. Initiatives like the One Million Coders Programme aim to equip young people with the technical knowledge required for participation in technology development.

Building that capacity requires more than training developers. Africa also needs researchers, AI specialists, and data professionals capable of contributing to the development and governance of digital systems. George delivered these remarks at the conclusion of AfriSIG 2026, where he emphasized the need for graduates to apply their knowledge to local policy development and digital rights advocacy.