The Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of Information Management Services and a Fellow of the Ghana School on Internet Governance (GhanaSIG), Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, has called on African governments to ensure equitable and uninterrupted internet connectivity across the continent, regardless of geographical location.
Dr. Kumawu made the call while delivering a presentation on the topic “International Trade and Internet Governance: The African Perspective” at the opening ceremony of a four-day in-person training for prospective fellows of GhanaSIG 2025.
In her presentation, Dr. Kumawu examined the evolving regulatory landscape governing international trade and how it intersects with the relatively unregulated space of the internet. She underscored the growing influence of internet freedoms on today’s social, political, and economic environments and called for policies that strike a balance between these freedoms and international trade regulations for the benefit of all.
Dr. Kumawu further expressed concern over the high cost and low speed of internet connectivity in many African countries, stating that the continent continues to face significant digital disparities compared to the rest of the world.
The training programme, designed to build local capacity in internet governance, has brought together 52 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. It offers a platform for participants to deepen their understanding of internet governance issues and gain the requisite skills to contribute meaningfully to digital policy formulation and implementation across the sub-region.
