Ghana Elected to Chair African Union ICT Committee at Libreville Digital Policy Meeting

Ghana has been elected to chair the bureau of the African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and Information and Communications Technologies during the committee’s sixth session in Libreville, Gabon, according to the African Union’s account of proceedings on 27 October 2026.

The election places Ghana in a coordinating role within a forum where African governments discuss shared priorities for communications, digital transformation and related policy. Kenya was elected first vice-chair, Gabon third vice-chair and Lesotho rapporteur, while the North African vice-chair position had not yet been confirmed in the initial announcement.

The meeting is addressing issues including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital identity, data governance and communications infrastructure. These subjects increasingly overlap: digital public services depend on trusted identity systems, while cross-border commerce requires interoperable technology and rules for handling data.

The committee is a platform for technical and ministerial deliberation. Its bureau helps organise and guide that work, but chairing the committee does not give Ghana unilateral authority to set binding digital rules for other African Union member states.

Artificial intelligence is one area where coordination could matter. Governments face decisions about public-sector deployment, infrastructure requirements, skills, safety and access. Continental dialogue can help identify shared challenges, although individual countries will continue to make domestic regulatory and investment choices.

Cybersecurity and digital identity raise related questions about trust. Expanding digital services can improve access and efficiency, but governments also need safeguards around personal information, authentication and institutional accountability. Differences in national laws and technical systems can complicate regional integration.

Data governance is another important element of the agenda. Businesses operating across borders need clarity about the collection, storage and movement of information. Policymakers must balance the economic value of data-enabled services with privacy, security and public-interest considerations.

The Libreville session follows preparations previously reported by Towncrier Africa. The new development is the election of the bureau and the start of deliberations, rather than the original scheduling of the meeting.

The African Union’s Specialised Technical Committees contribute policy recommendations through the organisation’s institutional processes. Discussions or proposed recommendations at this stage should not be described as enacted continental legislation.

The outcomes to watch are the formal decisions and recommendations adopted at the conclusion of the session, along with any implementation responsibilities assigned to member states or African Union institutions. Ghana’s leadership role creates an opportunity to help shape the discussion, but its practical significance will depend on the committee’s subsequent work.

Source: Official institutional or organisation website.