Communications Minister Sam George confirmed as chair of AU STC on Communication and ICT

Samuel Nartey George (MP) is Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations. The African Union confirmed him as Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT, known as AU STC-ICT. The confirmation took place at the committee’s 6th Ordinary Session in Libreville, Gabon.

George described the position as a duty to the whole African Union, rather than a privilege for Ghana. He called for stronger cooperation on connectivity, data governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. He also urged countries to move beyond creating policies and begin putting them into practice.

His chairmanship will last two years. He says its success should be judged by results, not declarations. He wants member states to build consensus, cooperate more closely and help Africa act as one digital market with one digital voice. Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme illustrates the skills and opportunities he wants young Africans to receive.

The African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT is a continental forum where member states coordinate digital and communications priorities. The article shows it working through ministers and national representatives. Its importance comes from helping African countries respond collectively to issues that cross borders, including connectivity, data governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

The committee’s key mechanism is cooperation. Countries can build consensus, align decisions and work toward shared approaches instead of acting as isolated markets. The article also links its work to existing African frameworks on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and data governance. The challenge is not simply creating more policies, but implementing them at the speed people need.

George’s confirmation gives Ghana a leadership role for two years. He wants the committee measured by results rather than declarations. That means stronger coordination, practical implementation and progress toward one African digital market and one continental voice in global digital discussions.

Ghana has identified a practical goal for its two-year chairmanship: make continental digital cooperation produce results. Samuel Nartey George wants the committee to build consensus, strengthen cooperation and drive implementation. He argues that Africa already has important frameworks, so the next step is applying them effectively.

The priorities cover both digital foundations and future technologies. They include expanding connectivity, improving data governance, strengthening cybersecurity and advancing artificial intelligence. George also stressed the need to equip Africa’s young population with useful skills and opportunities. Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme was presented as an example of what young people can achieve when they receive the right tools.

The wider ambition is political as well as technical. Ghana wants African countries to operate as one digital market and speak with one digital voice. George says the committee should be judged by delivered results, not adopted declarations. This places implementation at the centre of the chairmanship.

Africa’s potential combined digital market is nearly 1.5 billion people, according to Samuel Nartey George. That figure represents the continent’s collective strength when its 55 countries coordinate. It matters because market size can influence negotiations, investment decisions and the standards that shape digital trade and technology.

George contrasted two positions. Negotiating separately leaves Africa as 55 individual markets. Negotiating together presents one market of nearly 1.5 billion people. The mechanism is collective bargaining: countries align their priorities and speak with one voice instead of approaching global discussions independently.

This scale could support Africa’s goal of being “at the table, not on the menu” in debates about artificial intelligence, data and digital trade. The article does not claim that unity automatically guarantees influence. It shows that stronger cooperation is the foundation for using Africa’s population and shared interests more effectively in global digital negotiations.

Moving from policy adoption to joint implementation would make Africa’s digital plans more practical and useful. The continent already has frameworks for digital transformation, artificial intelligence and data governance. The missing ingredient identified by George is collective will to apply them at the pace people demand.

The mechanism would be coordinated action by member states. Countries could align work on connectivity, data governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence instead of pursuing disconnected approaches. Shared implementation could also support young people through skills and opportunities, as illustrated by Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme.

The likely result, based on the minister’s priorities, would be stronger continental cooperation and a more unified digital market. Africa could present common positions in global discussions on AI, data and digital trade. George says progress should be judged by results delivered over the next two years, not by the number of declarations adopted.

Negotiating as one continental market could increase Africa’s influence because it combines the interests and economic scale of 55 countries. George puts the potential market at nearly 1.5 billion people. A unified position can attract more attention than many separate national positions, especially when global rules affect the whole continent.

The key mechanism is collective bargaining. African countries would coordinate their priorities on artificial intelligence, data and digital trade, then speak together in international discussions. This could reduce fragmentation and make it clearer what outcomes African states want. It also supports George’s call for Africa to be “at the table, not on the menu.”

The article presents unity as a goal, not an automatic result. Ghana’s chairmanship will seek consensus and stronger cooperation so that countries can act together. If they implement shared approaches, Africa may have a more coherent voice and greater ability to shape the global digital economy.

Data governance means the rules and processes used to manage data responsibly, including how it is handled and shared. Cybersecurity means protecting digital systems, networks and information from disruption or misuse. Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that perform tasks associated with human intelligence, such as analysing information or generating outputs. These three areas shape how a digital economy functions.

Their mechanisms are connected. Data governance creates trustworthy ways to use information. Cybersecurity protects the systems and data that people, businesses and governments depend on. Artificial intelligence can turn data and computing power into useful services, but it needs responsible rules and secure systems. Together, they support confidence, innovation and digital participation.

The article identifies all three as critical priorities for coordinated African action. It notes that Africa already has frameworks on AI and data governance, while cybersecurity remains a key concern. George’s wider message is that countries must implement these priorities together, not merely adopt policies separately.