Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has called on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to strengthen its regional structure by expanding technical representation beyond its development-focused operations.
Speaking at an ongoing ITU meeting in Geneva, the minister said the global body must ensure all its sectors are adequately represented at the regional level to address the growing complexity of digital and telecommunications systems.
Nartey George acknowledged the impact of ITU regional and area offices, noting their contributions across all six global regions. He also commended initiatives that directly benefit member states, particularly in Africa, citing Ghana’s participation in Digital Financial Services Security Clinics organized through the African Regional Office in collaboration with the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.
“These are the kinds of capacity-building interventions our membership needs,” he noted, urging the ITU to sustain and expand such programmes.
Despite the progress, the minister raised concerns about what he described as an imbalance in the ITU’s regional operations, which he said are largely driven by the Telecommunication Development Bureau. While recognizing the importance of development work, he argued that the current model does not fully reflect the evolving technical demands of member states.
He said regional offices, originally designed to support development, must now adapt to rapid technological change by adopting a more integrated and technically driven approach.
To address the gap, Nartey George called for greater involvement of the Radiocommunication Sector and the Telecommunication Standardization Sector in regional activities. His proposals included deploying dedicated technical experts within regional offices, increasing sector-specific missions and strengthening coordination between ITU bureau directors and regional leadership.
While acknowledging that some Telecommunication Standardization Bureau staff have been assigned to regional offices, he questioned when similar arrangements would be extended to the Radiocommunication Sector in Africa.
The minister identified spectrum management, satellite coordination and preparations toward the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 as priority areas requiring stronger technical support at the regional level.
He also urged the ITU to broaden its ongoing review of regional presence beyond development metrics, calling for an assessment that reflects how effectively offices meet the full range of member states’ technical needs. He recommended that the 27 key performance indicators adopted by Council 2025 be applied with this wider scope.
“A stronger regional presence is one that brings the whole of the ITU to the membership, not just one bureau,” he noted. Nartey George reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to engage in shaping reforms aimed at strengthening the ITU’s effectiveness across its global membership.
