In June 2024, African ICT and Communications Ministers unanimously endorsed landmark ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ )๐๐) ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ and ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ to accelerate Africaโs digital transformation by unlocking the potential of the new digital technologies. The upcoming ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง on the 18-19 July 2024 in Accra, Ghana, will deliberate on these new developments.
The ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ provides guidance to African countries to harness artificial intelligence to meet Africaโs development aspirations and the well-being of its people, while promoting ethical use, minimising potential risks, and leveraging opportunities.
Identifying key priorities and actions to ensure that Africa fully benefits from the huge opportunities AI offers, the strategy calls for Africa-owned, people-centered, development-oriented, and inclusive approach to accelerate African countriesโ AI capabilities in infrastructure, talent, datasets, innovation, and partnerships while also ensuring adequate safeguards and protection from threats.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ is Africaโs common vision and one voice that charts Africaโs digital future and harnesses the transformative potential of digital technologies to foster sustainable development, economic growth, and societal well-being throughout Africa.
The Compact will position Africa at the forefront of the global digital economy, not just as a consumer but also as innovator and producer, creating strong pool of talents, and enhancing public private partnerships which are critical to promote homegrown digital solutions.
