Communication Minister Calls for Stronger African Ownership of Digital Identity
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George (MP), has called for stronger African ownership and control of the continent’s digital identity.
He made the call as he opened the 2025 Africa Domain Name System (DNS) Forum in Accra on Wednesday at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC).
The forum which is organized by Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR) , under the auspices of Ministry, with support from AfTLD, AfRegistrar and ICANN, brought together registries, registrars, policymakers, cybersecurity experts, academia, and private sector leaders to discuss strategies for strengthening Africa’s DNS resilience.
The event also seeks to address key issues on the agenda include routing security, DNS abuse mitigation, harmonised regulations, online fraud prevention, and the need for business models that make domain services more accessible.
Addressing industry leaders, and technical experts from across the continent, the Minister said Africa must take decisive steps to secure and expand its digital presence, noting that the continent’s low number of registered domain names undermines its visibility, competitiveness, and sovereignty in the global digital economy.
“With over 1.3 billion people, Africa cannot continue to have only a few million registered domains. If we are to define our digital identity, secure our online space, and participate meaningfully in the global digital economy, we must strengthen our control of the digital foundations that shape our future,” he stressed.
He described the Domain Name System, often referred to as the Internet’s address book as a strategic asset critical to e-government services, digital commerce, fintech, education, healthcare, and innovation. He therefore warned that Africa’s limited footprint in the global DNS weakens the continent’s ability to secure its online presence and fully harness digital opportunities.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to a secure and inclusive digital future, citing ongoing efforts to strengthen the .gh namespace, expand connectivity, reinforce cybersecurity, and promote local content.
“Every .gh domain is a declaration of who we are and our readiness for digital business,” he said.
Hon. Nartey George emphasised that the continent’s youth must be central to this effort.
“Africa’s young people are not just consumers of the Internet—they must be architects of the Internet’s future in Africa,” he said.
He urged African countries to deepen collaboration, invest in talent, and build trusted digital infrastructure that secures Africa’s place in the global Internet ecosystem.
The forum continues with high-level dialogues and technical sessions aimed at accelerating domain adoption and strengthening the continent’s digital resilience.
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