Ghana joined over ten African countries at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva this week to advance a unified approach to artificial intelligence governance across the continent. The session, convened by Smart Africa, introduced a Model AI Policy Framework designed to guide the 70% of African nations that have yet to develop national AI strategies.
Ghana, alongside Kenya and Algeria, participated in a high-level panel to share lessons from its experience in shaping early-stage AI policy. The event marked a critical step in accelerating African-led AI regulation, with support from global institutions including the World Bank, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and UNESCO, who pledged technical tools and policy guidance to support implementation.
The initiative aims to ensure that African countries are equipped to govern AI in ways that align with local priorities, particularly in education, health, agriculture, and governance, while protecting data sovereignty and ethical standards.
Cameroon however, recently became one of the few African nations to formally adopt a national AI strategy. Its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (SNIA) sets out a long-term framework to integrate AI across sectors and establish the country as a regional AI hub by 2040.
To further institutionalise collaboration, plans have been announced by Smart Africa to establish an AI Community of Practice, which will enable peer learning, policy alignment, and knowledge exchange among African countries. The broader goal is to ensure that Africa is not merely a passive adopter of AI technologies, but an active co-creator in shaping global norms and applications.
The Geneva summit points to growing momentum across the continent to coordinate policy responses to AI, with Ghana’s engagement reinforcing its role in the ongoing dialogue around digital governance and innovation leadership in Africa.
