The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has called on African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign technology by investing in homegrown digital solutions that address the continent’s unique needs and development priorities.
He said Africa must build the capacity to develop, adapt and regulate technologies that reflect its languages, cultures and socio-economic realities as countries pursue a more competitive digital economy.
“Technology, by itself, is not development. Technology becomes transformational when it solves real problems, creates real jobs and improves real lives,” he stated.
Mr George was speaking at Digital Economy Live 2026, held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra as part of the 7th Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards. The forum was held under the theme, “Governance 2030: Resilient Institutions for a Digital, Green & Secure Africa.”
He said Ghana was positioning itself as a centre for African innovation, pointing to its mobile money interoperability system, national digital identity infrastructure and growing attractiveness to international technology companies, research centres and investors.
The Minister also disclosed that his Ministry was conducting a comprehensive review of the policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks governing the digital technology sector.
He said the review was intended to ensure that public institutions were adequately equipped to respond to rapid technological changes and support the development of a digital economy that delivers practical benefits to citizens.