Can Africa’s digital future be built country by country, or does it require a continental mindset?

In this TechAfrica News podcast episode, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Ghana's Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, sat down with Akim Benamara, Chief Editor and Founder of TechAfrica News, on the sidelines of MWC 2026 in Barcelona to discuss the policy, infrastructure, and talent priorities shaping Africa's digital future.

They discuss legislative reform, AI readiness, digital trade, data sovereignty, and cross-border regulatory alignment. At the core is a shared idea: Africa’s digital transformation depends on countries building beyond national borders toward a more unified continental framework.

About the Guest
Hon. Samuel Nartey George is a Member of Parliament and Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations. He is leading ICT legislative reform in Ghana while advancing a broader vision for African AI infrastructure, data sovereignty, and digital skills development.

Digital Transformation Starts with Policy Reform 

For Minister George, technology underpins every aspect of governance. His first priority was tackling outdated legislation to create an environment where innovation can thrive, positioning Ghana as a creator of African solutions, not just a consumer of them.

Building an African Framework for Digital Growth 

Minister George pointed to the AU Digital Transformation Strategy and the Malabo Convention as benchmarks for national legislation, to be adopted selectively rather than wholesale. Ghana is already acting on that vision, and its 33 million people are a starting point, not a ceiling.

AI Readiness Is Really About Skills 

He argues that AI's impact will depend on how well countries prepare their workforce. Through DIGSMART and the One Million Coders programme, Ghana is investing in AI, cybersecurity and digital skills training, focusing not on resisting technological change but on equipping citizens to benefit from it. 

“I keep saying that the solutions to Africa's problems are in the streets of Accra and Nairobi and Lusaka. They're not in the streets of Barcelona or London or San Francisco. We just need to give agency to our young people to grow the solutions that they have for our problems.”  – Hon. Samuel Nartey George, MP,  Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Ghana

Africa's Untapped Asset: Data 

As global AI systems increasingly require diverse datasets, African countries must organise, digitise and govern their own data, ensuring it remains under African control and delivers value back to African economies.

Digital Trade Needs Regulatory Clarity 

The AfCFTA and AU digital frameworks provide a strong foundation for cross-border digital trade, but implementation remains the missing piece. African technology companies routinely face repeated licensing requirements in each new market, and harmonised frameworks with mutual recognition mechanisms could significantly reduce these barriers.

From Frameworks to Action: Africa's Next Digital Priorities 

Africa does not lack strategies or frameworks. What is needed now is the political will to turn shared ambitions into practical outcomes. 

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