Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, has called upon stakeholders in the digital industry to unite their efforts in shaping the future of Ghana's digital landscape and that of Africa as a whole. She emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive framework to govern different types of data, ensuring security and proper storage.
Speaking at a two-day National Data Centre and Cloud Computing Regulatory Framework Validation workshop in Accra, organized by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) in collaboration with Smart Africa, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful highlighted Ghana's significant strides in digitizing its economy. She stressed that data is becoming increasingly vital in the fourth Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the need for a structured regulatory framework to govern data usage.
The Minister underscored the importance of collective action in shaping the digital future, noting that the outcomes of stakeholder engagements would enrich regulatory frameworks not only in Ghana but also across the Smart Africa alliance and the continent at large. She commended Ghana's legal regulatory framework, emphasizing the resilience of the Electronic Transactions Act in supporting digital initiatives.
Ms. Thelma Efua Quaye, Director of Digital Infrastructure, Skills, and Empowerment at Smart Africa, emphasized the challenge of harmonizing regulations across Africa and highlighted Smart Africa's phased approach to support member states in developing national regulatory frameworks for data centers and cloud computing services.
Mr. Richard Okyere-Fosu, Director-General of NITA, outlined the agency's objectives to roll out specific regulations addressing various areas in the ICT space. He emphasized collaboration with Smart Africa to harmonize the digital ecosystem across Africa under the auspices of the African Union, ensuring that regulations stimulate market growth and expansion without overburdening businesses.
The workshop signifies a concerted effort to establish robust regulatory frameworks that facilitate innovation, investment, and data protection while propelling Ghana and Africa forward in the digital revolution.