Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has urged African countries to move from being consumers of global technology to becoming active partners and contributors in its development.
He made the call in Accra when he opened the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking to regulators, policymakers, industry leaders and development partners, the Minister said Africa was at a defining moment in its digital journey. He noted that the continent’s future competitiveness would depend on trusted data systems, coordinated digital policies and strong governance frameworks.
Tying the summit’s theme, “Defining Africa’s Digital Future, From Consumerism to Partnership,” to the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Digital Trade Protocol, he said an integrated digital market would not be possible without secure cross border data flows. He announced that Ghana was advancing a Data Harmonisation Bill to support interoperability, protect datasets and improve the management of data access.
Mr George said Ghana was modernising its digital governance laws, expanding rural broadband and scaling up e government services to deepen inclusion. These efforts, he added, were supported by major investments in digital skills, including the One Million Coders programme designed to prepare young people for a technology driven economy. He also highlighted the Innovation and Startup Bill, which aims to attract investment and strengthen the country’s technology ecosystem.
Board Chair of the Africa Digital Rights Hub, Prof. Justice S K Date Bah, cautioned against treating data protection as a purely technical issue. He said it must be seen as a human rights concern that demands stronger capacity building, harmonised governance systems and home grown solutions that reflect African values. The summit, he said, offered an important platform for research, dialogue and partnerships that would help Africa secure greater equity in global technology governance.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Data Protection Commission, Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, commended Ghana’s progress in promoting privacy as a cultural value rather than only a regulatory obligation.
He announced that Ghana had recently been admitted into the Global Privacy Assembly’s Data Sharing Working Group in South Korea, a move he described as a significant step that gives the country a stronger voice in shaping global standards for ethical data use.
