Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of Information Management Services and a Fellow of the Ghana School on Internet Governance (GhanaSIG), has urged African governments to ensure fair and uninterrupted access to internet connectivity across all regions of the continent.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a four-day in-person training session for prospective fellows of GhanaSIG 2025, Dr. Kumawu stressed the pressing need to close Africa’s digital divide.
She noted that many African countries continue to experience low-speed connections and unaffordable internet costs, which limit access and hamper development in rural and underserved communities.
Her presentation, titled “International Trade and Internet Governance: The African Perspective,” delved into how the continent’s approach to internet governance must evolve in response to global digital trade demands.
She highlighted the growing impact of internet freedoms on modern social, political, and economic dynamics and warned that neglecting this intersection could have long-term consequences for inclusive development.
Dr. Kumawu further argued for the creation of policy frameworks that balance the protection of digital rights with fair regulation of international trade.
According to her, such frameworks would help harmonize Africa’s internet landscape with the global economy while preserving the continent’s unique governance needs.
The GhanaSIG 2025 training programme, which seeks to strengthen capacity in internet governance, has drawn 52 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.
It provides a platform for young professionals, policymakers, and digital advocates to explore key internet-related issues and equip themselves to shape future policies across the sub-region.
