Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George has called on African countries to make digital transformation more inclusive, accountable and sustainable, warning against allowing the continent’s data to become another resource exploited by others. He made the appeal on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during closing remarks at the Africa Internet Governance Forum in Accra.
He urged governments to measure digital progress by its impact on people rather than connectivity figures alone. He identified data sovereignty, meaningful inclusion, public trust and environmental sustainability as priorities, while highlighting new platforms established at the forum to widen participation in internet governance.
“Coverage is not connectivity. A tower near a village does not, on its own, transform a life.”
Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George
Mr George cautioned African countries against repeating the mistakes associated with gold, cocoa and oil by supplying data to external interests without retaining sufficient value.
He called for stronger capacity to manage and benefit from information generated by citizens, businesses and public institutions.
Digital inclusion must deliver real benefits
On inclusion, Mr George maintained that expanding network coverage did not automatically translate into meaningful participation.
He argued that digital inclusion should be measured by whether technology enabled farmers to secure fair prices, girls to acquire coding skills and older people to access online services in languages they understood.
He asked governments to judge connectivity by the lives and opportunities it creates, not coverage figures. The benefits, he argued, must reach people in communities across the continent.
Local languages, education and economic participation, he indicated, should remain central to Africa’s digital inclusion agenda.
Trust and accountability essential to digital growth
Mr George identified public trust as a central requirement for a safe digital environment, warning that misinformation, online fraud and artificial intelligence could expose citizens to serious harm.
He raised concerns about false information spreading rapidly, fraudsters draining family savings and artificial intelligence tools imitating human voices. He also cautioned against spyware being used against citizens.
The Minister explained that Ghana supported the Global Digital Compact and its implementation process, and hosted a regional symposium connected to the initiative. He challenged stakeholders to determine who should be held responsible when trust breaks down.
“The honest answer is that all of us are accountable.”
Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George
Green energy needed for Africa’s digital future
Turning to sustainability, Mr George warned that digital infrastructure carries an energy cost that African countries must address. He questioned whether the continent could expand digital services without becoming more carbon-intensive.
He linked the digital transition to the continent’s wider environmental priorities, urging stakeholders to consider sustainability as they expand infrastructure.
New platforms widen internet governance participation
The Minister described the Accra forum as a milestone, highlighting the first Africa Children’s Internet Governance Forum, where children presented a Child Online Protection Manifesto.
He also acknowledged the inaugural African Judicial Dialogue on Internet Governance and thanked members of the judiciary for engaging with digital policy.
The forum also established an IGF for Youth and a Parliamentary Track. He urged stakeholders to advance digital trade, strengthen country-code top-level domains and accelerate Africa’s IPv6 resources. He pledged to work with ministers, the AUC and partners on these priorities.
Africa urged to take common position to Nairobi
With the global Internet Governance Forum scheduled to meet in Nairobi in December, Mr George called on African countries to carry the momentum from Accra into the next gathering and present practical solutions with one voice.
He warned that Africa risked having decisions imposed on it if it failed to participate meaningfully in global discussions.
“if Africa is not at the table like I said in my opening remarks Africa will be on the menu for those sitting at the table”.
Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George
Mr George concluded by thanking the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the UN IGF Secretariat, the African Union Commission, the Africa Internet Governance Forum Secretariat, the Multistakeholder Advisory Group and the Local Organising Committee.
He apologised to colleagues he might have shouted at during preparations and thanked ministry staff for their commitment.
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