Collins Sefa Ghana and Lesotho have agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, signaling a broader push for African nations to unite on technology and policy.
This week in Accra, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, hosted his Lesotho counterpart, Hon. Nthati Moorosi, for talks aimed at strengthening collaboration in innovation and digital policy.
Joint Push for Digital Policy
The ministers stressed the need for African countries to coordinate on technology adoption and digital frameworks to avoid fragmentation and accelerate development. Ghana is preparing to roll out 15 new legislative frameworks covering AI, emerging technologies, data protection, cybersecurity, and the digital economy. These will be shared with Lesotho and other African nations as models for policy development.
Major Upcoming Tech Events
Hon. George announced that Ghana will host the Global Entrepreneurship Festival in November, a three-day event expected to connect 100,000 ICT innovators with global investors. In 2026, Ghana, in partnership with Google, will also host the Divas of ICT Forum in Accra, bringing together tech giants such as Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft alongside African leaders to shape strategies for digital growth.
Practical Collaboration
The two countries explored joint projects, including developing large language models for agriculture to help farmers overcome language barriers. Ghana pledged to link its academic community with experts from Lesotho to support this initiative.
The discussions also addressed challenges African governments face in content monetization and negotiations with big tech companies. Hon. George stressed the importance of direct engagement with senior executives at Google and Meta to secure better outcomes for African markets.
Building a Regional Digital Alliance
To coordinate efforts, the ministers agreed to set up a virtual working group of around ten African countries — including Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Guinea, Kenya, and Gambia — with South Africa expected to join. The group will design a joint digital roadmap, with Smart Africa acting as facilitation secretariat.
The move reflects a growing determination among African states to pool expertise and resources in AI and digital innovation, ensuring the continent plays a stronger role in the global technology ecosystem.
