BTA Admin Ghana will officially begin preparations to host one of Africa’s biggest digital policy gatherings on Friday as the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations launches the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026) in Accra.
The launch, scheduled to take place at the Ministry’s Conference Room, will be led by Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, marking the formal start of the country’s hosting responsibilities for the continental forum.
AfIGF 2026 is expected to bring together governments, technology companies, policymakers, parliamentarians, academics, civil society organisations, development institutions, youth groups, and members of the technical community from across Africa and beyond.
Organisers say the event will focus on shaping Africa’s digital future at a time when governments across the continent are accelerating investments in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and online governance frameworks.
The forum will be held under the theme: “Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion, and Trust.”
The event comes as African countries intensify implementation of major continental digital frameworks, including the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030, Agenda 2063, the WSIS+20 process, and the Global Digital Compact.
Discussions during AfIGF 2026 are expected to cover some of the most pressing issues facing Africa’s digital economy, including artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, online safety, platform governance, digital inclusion, climate change, and expanding meaningful internet connectivity across underserved communities.
The forum will also place significant attention on youth and women’s participation in digital governance conversations, reflecting growing concerns over unequal representation in Africa’s technology policy ecosystem.
According to the Ministry, the launch event will provide details about the forum’s structure, thematic tracks, and stakeholder participation opportunities, while emphasizing inclusive multistakeholder collaboration across the continent.
AfIGF 2026 is also expected to strengthen Africa’s coordination ahead of the Global Internet Governance Forum scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, later in 2026.
Analysts say the gathering could become increasingly important as African governments seek stronger influence in global conversations around artificial intelligence regulation, cross-border data governance, cybersecurity standards, and digital trade rules.
Africa’s digital economy has become one of the continent’s fastest-growing sectors, driven by rising smartphone penetration, mobile money adoption, startup growth, and expanding internet access.
However, major challenges remain around digital inequality, infrastructure gaps, online safety, data protection, and the governance of rapidly emerging technologies.
The Africa Internet Governance Forum has increasingly become one of the continent’s most influential platforms for addressing those issues through policy dialogue and regional cooperation.
The platform operates as Africa’s premier multistakeholder space for digital governance discussions and aligns with the broader global Internet Governance Forum process established after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
For Ghana, hosting AfIGF 2026 also represents an opportunity to strengthen its position as one of West Africa’s growing digital and technology policy hubs amid rising continental competition to attract technology investment, innovation ecosystems, and digital infrastructure projects.
