Accra: Public administrations of African governments have been advised to embrace the use of technology in the delivery of services, especially in remote areas.
According to Ghana News Agency, African nations have been urged to address infrastructure gaps, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and regulatory challenges to fully realize the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Madam Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration of the Republic of South Africa, emphasized these points at the opening of a three-day maiden annual African Management Development Institutes Network (AMDIN) conference held in Accra. Hosted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the conference focused on the theme: ‘Enhancing Governance and Public Administration in Times of Polycrises Through Collaboration, Policy, Evidence, Technology (AI), and Innovation for Service Delivery.’
She highlighted the importance of prioritizing investments in secure digital platforms, nationwide broadband expansions, and AI-driven service enhancement as crucial steps for fostering inclusive digital governance. The South African government, she added, emphasizes the vital role of artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure in improving government service delivery and strengthening governance.
The Deputy Minister noted the deep and enduring fraternal bond shared by South Africa and Ghana, citing Ghana’s independence as a source of strength and inspiration for the liberation movements across African countries. She stressed that the strength of any nation rests on its state capacity to deliver, protect, and uplift its people, making governance a critical aspect for resilience, recovery, and long-term transformation.
She further elaborated on strategic national visions by mentioning South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030, which aligns with Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. She also cited similar visionary plans by Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Malawi, Namibia, and Zambia. However, she warned that without sufficient state capacity, countries risk failing to provide quality public services, leading to institutional underperformance, social unrest, economic stagnation, and even violence.
Professor Samuel Bonsu, Rector of GIMPA, underscored the importance of partnership in shaping Africa’s development and capacity-building efforts. He highlighted the need to prepare leaders to tackle emerging challenges and announced the Network’s upcoming economic governance conference scheduled for June in Ghana.
AMDIN, a leading professional association dedicated to public sector capacity building in Africa, remains committed to promoting continental and global knowledge exchanges to build capable administrations and stronger institutions for Africa’s development.
