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Former Vice President of Ghana and 2028 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, has outlined six key policy priorities aimed at positioning Africa as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI).
Delivering a keynote address at the LSE Africa Summit 2026 held at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Dr Bawumia stressed the need for African countries to move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical, measurable actions to build a competitive AI ecosystem.
He noted that success in the digital age would depend on deliberate planning, sustained investment, and strong institutional capacity across the continent.
“Technological revolutions reward those who build foundations: institutions, infrastructure, skills, and rules before they chase the latest applications,” he stated, urging African leaders to act “boldly, but methodically” in securing the continent’s place in the global digital economy.
Outlining his proposals, Dr Bawumia called for significant investments in reliable electricity, broadband infrastructure, and secure data systems. He also highlighted the importance of developing trustworthy data ecosystems and implementing large-scale talent development programmes to equip the workforce with relevant digital skills.
Additionally, he emphasised the need to strengthen public sector procurement capacity and integrate ethical standards into AI deployment across African economies.
“Build AI foundations… build trustworthy data ecosystems… build talent at scale,” he said, summarising the core priorities, while also stressing the importance of cross-border collaboration to create interoperable digital markets across the continent.
Dr Bawumia concluded with a strong call to action, urging African governments and institutions to seize the opportunity presented by AI and shape its future direction.
“Africa should be poised to shape the global AI conversation not as a passive consumer, but as a builder of responsible systems,” he said. “If we unite borders through infrastructure, skills, governance, and markets, then AI can become a force for shared prosperity.”
Yaw Boagyan
