Smart Africa launches regional workshop to boost digital connectivity across West Africa
Date: 2025-04-10
Smart Africa has commenced a two-day regional stakeholder engagement workshop in Ghana, gathering representatives from nine West African nations alongside key partners. The event marks a significant step in advancing the Africa Bulk Purchase Marketplace (BPMP) initiative, a groundbreaking approach designed to enhance digital connectivity for critical institutions across the continent.
The workshop
serves as a platform to introduce the BPMP framework and solicit valuable
feedback from member states on their specific connectivity needs. By pooling
the collective demand of Smart Africa’s member countries, the BPMP aims to
secure cost-effective digital solutions for schools, healthcare facilities, and
other vital public institutions. This aggregated purchasing model is expected
to drive down costs while improving access to reliable internet and digital
services.
Participants at
the Accra meeting include government officials, telecom regulators, and private
sector stakeholders, all collaborating to shape the implementation strategy for
the BPMP. The initiative aligns with Smart Africa’s broader mission of accelerating
Africa’s digital transformation through innovative, pan-African solutions.
Speaking at the
opening session, the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Smart Africa noted the
importance of regional cooperation in bridging the digital divide. The BPMP
model not only promises economic efficiencies but also ensures that underserved
communities gain equitable access to the tools needed for education,
healthcare, and economic participation in the digital age.
The outcomes of
the workshop will guide the next phases of the BPMP rollout, with the goal of
creating a scalable, sustainable framework for digital infrastructure
procurement across the continent.
By: Robert Annor
