Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a strong warning to global technology giants. He accuses them of systematically exploiting African digital resources. The minister described this trend as a new form of "colonisation." This warning was delivered after an address at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference. The conference focused on Family Sovereignty and Values. The event took place within the Parliament of Ghana.
Mr. George stated that Africa should unite to regain control over its data. He cautioned that failing to do so would lead to subjugation by foreign corporate interests. The minister drew parallels between historical colonialism and current digital exploitation. He noted that multinational tech firms use similar strategies. These strategies were employed to subjugate the continent centuries ago. He highlighted that fragmented African regulatory systems make the continent vulnerable. This vulnerability allows for foreign data harvesting syndicates.
The minister directly accused global tech firms. He stated they extract vast amounts of citizen data. This happens without proper consent or economic compensation for host nations. He described the unauthorized transfer of commercial, behavioural, and biometric data as outright theft. Mr. George called for an immediate, unified continental policy. This policy should block unauthorized cross-border data transfers. It should also force global tech firms to store and process African data locally. This should be done under African terms.
Minister George emphasized the need for Africa to take a clear stance. He said, "the stealing of African data must stop." He added that African data has been stolen by big tech. This occurred without consultation with African governments. This warning comes at a significant time for Ghana. The nation aims to become a major digital hub in West Africa. This effort is supported by investments in state-owned data centres. Ghana is also focusing on data protection compliance.
Mr. George reminded attendees that true sovereignty in the 21st century is impossible. This is true if African nations remain passive consumers. They should not remain dependent on foreign software companies. He urged African governments, parliaments, and regional blocs to form a defensive coalition. This coalition will protect the continent's digital borders. It will also secure its collective future. "We must own our data," he declared. He called for a fight against forces aiming to undermine Africa. The minister's strong words underlined the economic and strategic value of digital data.