African Ministers call for harmonised policies and infrastructure investment at Connected Africa Summit Roundtable

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

African ministers and digital economy stakeholders have called for stronger policy coordination and sustained infrastructure investment to accelerate the continent’s digital transformation, during a ministerial roundtable held on the sidelines of the Connected Africa Summit 2026 in Nairobi.

The session was convened by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau and brought together ministers, regulators, industry leaders, and members of the diplomatic community to deliberate on key priorities shaping Africa’s digital future.

Discussions focused on the need to harmonise data protection frameworks across countries to enable secure and efficient cross-border data flows. Participants also emphasized the importance of developing interoperable digital identity and payment systems to support seamless digital trade and regional integration.

Ministers highlighted fiscal barriers, including taxes and tariffs, as ongoing challenges that continue to limit affordability and access to digital services across the continent. Addressing these constraints was identified as critical to expanding digital inclusion.

The roundtable further underscored the importance of sustained investment in digital infrastructure, particularly reliable energy systems required to support data centres and broader connectivity initiatives.

Participants also pointed to the need for strong governance frameworks and consistent political commitment to ensure effective implementation of digital strategies at both national and continental levels.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, John Kipchumba Tanui and ICT Authority CEO, Jessy Maruti, alongside representatives from across government, industry, and international partners, whose contributions helped shape the discussions on advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda.