By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The GSMA has congratulated
Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon.
Samuel Nartey George, on his election as Chair of the African Union Specialised
Technical Committee on Communications and ICT, expressing support for his
priorities on affordable smartphones, digital trade and child online
protection.
In a statement, GSMA Africa
said the minister’s commitment to digital skills development in Ghana,
particularly through the One Million Coders Programme, aligned with the
continent’s broader digital transformation ambitions.
The programme aims to train
one million Ghanaians over four years, making digital skills a national
priority.
GSMA Africa said it was
pleased to see this commitment carried into George’s new continental role,
highlighting three priorities he has set for his tenure.
The first is improving
access to affordable smartphones, which the organisation said remains essential
to expanding meaningful connectivity across Africa.
“A network only reaches the
people who can afford a device to use it, so accessibility and affordability
decide who gets connected,” GSMA Africa stated.
The second priority is
digital trade, with the organisation noting that access to appropriate digital
tools and skills can enable more Africans to buy, sell and earn online while
participating in the continent’s growing digital economy.
The third priority is child
online protection, which GSMA Africa described as increasingly important as
more people, particularly young users, gain access to digital platforms and
services.
“As more people come online,
young users need to be safe from the start. Connection must come with
protection,” the organisation said.
GSMA Africa noted that the
three priorities align with its work with governments, regulators and mobile
network operators across the continent on connectivity, digital inclusion and
policies that expand internet access and help people benefit from digital
services.
The organisation reaffirmed
its readiness to support George and its partners in advancing the three
priorities.
GSMA Africa also
acknowledged the contribution of the outgoing Chair of the Committee, Lesotho’s
Hon. Nthati Moorosi, thanking her for her leadership and service.
