Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has urged African countries to develop and govern their own digital technologies rather than rely on solutions designed outside the continent.
Speaking at Digital Economy Live 2026 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, George emphasised the need for African countries to strengthen their capacity to create, adapt and regulate technologies that reflect local languages, cultures and development priorities.
He noted that technology should address real-world challenges, create employment opportunities and improve people’s lives to deliver meaningful development across the continent.
The forum was held as part of the 7th Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards under the theme, “Governance 2030: Resilient Institutions for a Digital, Green & Secure Africa.”
George said Ghana was positioning itself as a hub for African innovation. He pointed to the country’s mobile money interoperability framework, national digital identity system and growing appeal to international technology companies, research centres and investors.
His remarks highlight the importance of building Africa’s technological capabilities and reducing dependence on externally developed solutions. Strengthening local innovation and governance could help African countries develop digital services that better reflect their economic conditions, cultural contexts and public needs.
The minister’s call also underscores the role of digital infrastructure, regulation and local expertise in building competitive digital economies. As African countries expand their adoption of technology, developing homegrown solutions and strengthening the capacity to govern them remain important considerations for long-term digital development.
