West and Central African Ministers unite in Cotonou to advance regional Digital transformation and AI adoption
Date: 2025-11-19
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Ministers
and senior officials from across West and Central Africa convened in Cotonou,
for a high-level regional summit on digital transformation, hosted by Benin’s
Minister of Digital Affairs, Aurélie I. Adam Soule, in partnership with the
World Bank.
Senegal’s
Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital, Alioune Sall,
joined counterparts and international partners to discuss strategies for
accelerating digital development and ensuring the continent benefits fully from
emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
The
summit underscored a unified message: Africa must pool efforts to unlock the
transformative potential of AI and digital innovation.
A
keynote address by Moustapha Cissé, founder of KERA, highlighted AI’s vast
opportunities for the continent and received strong commendation for enriching
the discussions.
Key
priorities identified during the forum included expanding shared digital
infrastructure such as fibre networks and data centres, strengthening local
skills through talent development initiatives, and establishing ethical and
legal frameworks that support responsible AI. Delegates also emphasized the
need to deploy AI in sectors such as health, agriculture, and education to
deliver tangible social and economic impact.
Participants
agreed that with coordinated action, Africa can move beyond technology adoption
toward becoming an active shaper of the future of AI and digital
transformation.
