Bawumia outlines six policy priorities to position Africa as global AI leader

The former vice-president of Ghana and 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, has outlined six key policy commitments that he believes are critical for Africa to become a global force in artificial intelligence (AI).

He presented these proposals during his keynote address at the LSE Africa Summit 2026, held at the London School of Economics and Political Science yesterday (28 March 2026).

Dr Bawumia stressed that Africa must move beyond discussions and adopt practical, measurable actions to build a competitive AI ecosystem.

He observed that success in the digital age will 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 said, adding that Africa must act “boldly, but methodically” to secure its place in the global digital economy.

Call to action

Outlining his proposals, he called for investments in reliable electricity and broadband infrastructure, as well as the development of secure and trustworthy data ecosystems and large-scale talent development programmes.

He also emphasised the need for stronger public sector procurement capacity and the integration of ethical standards into AI deployment.

“Build AI foundations … build trustworthy data ecosystems … build talent at scale,” he said, listing the priorities, while also highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration to create interoperable digital markets across Africa.

Dr Bawumia concluded with a call to action for African leaders and institutions to seize the moment and shape the future of AI.

“Technological revolutions reward those who build foundations — institutions, infrastructure, skills and rules — before they chase the latest applications”

“Africa should be poised to shape the global AI conversation not as a passive consumer, but as a builder of responsible systems,” he said, adding that “if we unite borders through infrastructure, skills, governance and markets, then AI can become a force for shared prosperity”.

He however warned that if African countries fail to build dependable and first-order digital infrastructure, they will lose the opportunity to benefit from the technological development stemming from AI’s expansion into all facets of life.