Former Ghanaian Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has sounded the alarm over Africa’s sluggish embrace of artificial intelligence, warning that the continent could be left behind in one of the most consequential technological shifts in modern history.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the London School of Economics and Political Science’s annual Africa Summit, Dr. Bawumia told delegates that AI is no longer a distant frontier it is already reshaping economies, governance, and global power, and Africa is not keeping pace.

“We are in the midst of a digital revolution,” he said. “AI, data, cloud computing, and automation are reshaping productivity, security, and the very architecture of global competition.”

The Stakes: More Than Just Technology

Dr. Bawumia framed Africa’s AI challenge not as a technical problem, but as a question of sovereignty and self-determination. He drew a stark distinction between two paths the continent could take.

“If we treat AI as a set of imported tools, we will remain price-takers in the Knowledge Economy,” he warned. “But if we treat AI as a national and continental capability stack, we can become co-authors of the rules, the markets, and the benefits.”

The theme of the summit Artificial Intelligence and Uniting Borders  gave Dr. Bawumia the platform to argue that AI could be a powerful force for continental integration, but only if African nations build and share their own capabilities, rather than depending on technology developed elsewhere.

The Infrastructure Gap: A Hard Look at the Numbers

Dr. Bawumia did not shy away from the data, presenting a sobering picture of the foundational gaps standing between Africa and meaningful AI adoption.

On internet connectivity, he cited World Bank figures showing that only 43% of people across Africa use the internet and even that number tells an incomplete story. Within the continent, access varies sharply: Ghana sits at 70%, South Africa at 76%, while Rwanda trails at around 34%. More critically, he noted that being counted as an “internet user” only requires having gone online once in three months a low bar that masks the reality of how many people have affordable, reliable, and fast connectivity.

Electricity access which he called “non-negotiable” for any digital infrastructure presents a similar picture. Across Africa, only 60% of people have access to electricity. Country-level figures reveal wide disparities: Ghana leads at 89.5%, South Africa at 87.7%, Kenya at 76.2%, and Rwanda at 63.9%. But access alone is not enough. AI systems demand consistent uptime, and unreliable power transforms what could be national digital services into fragile, short-lived experiments.

“Africa’s AI agenda is also an infrastructure agenda,” Dr. Bawumia said bluntly. “No electricity, no compute, no broadband, no scaling. No trusted data systems, no safe deployment.”

Reasons for Cautious Optimism

Despite the challenges, Dr. Bawumia struck a note of measured hope, pointing to promising trends that suggest Africa does not need perfect infrastructure before it can begin benefiting from AI.

He highlighted the World Bank’s Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025, which points to the growing rise of lightweight, affordable AI tools designed to run on ordinary mobile phones already being used in agriculture, healthcare, and education across the continent.

On government readiness, the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2024 places several African countries in a position of growing momentum: Rwanda scores 51.25, South Africa 52.91, Kenya 43.56, and Ghana 43.30 out of 100. These are not top-tier scores, but they are not starting from zero either.

Dr. Bawumia noted that the details behind those scores matter. Ghana, for example, performs relatively well in government readiness but lags in its technology sector. South Africa, meanwhile, shows stronger data and digital infrastructure foundations. “Progress is real,” he said, urging that it must now move from isolated pilots to full national systems.

Build the Foundation First

Tying his address together, Dr. Bawumia urged African policymakers to resist the temptation of chasing AI applications before laying the groundwork that makes them viable.

“History teaches us something important: technological revolutions reward those who build foundations institutions, infrastructure, skills, and rules before they chase the latest applications,” he said. “Africa’s task is to do the same boldly, but methodically.”

He closed by invoking Estonia’s e-Governance Academy, which has predicted that the coming decade will be defined by the integration of AI into both governance and everyday life a future, Dr. Bawumia made clear, that Africa must prepare for now, not later.

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has expressed concern that individuals in the previous administration allegedly leaked sensitive information to suspected cybercrime targets, a situation he says repeatedly weakened efforts to sanitise Ghana’s digital space and rebuild international confidence.

In an interview that has circulated widely on social media, the Ningo Prampram MP explained that enforcement actions against cyber fraud often failed in the past because operational details were allegedly disclosed to suspects before arrests could be carried out.

He clarified that requests from international partners such as the FBI did not originate under the current administration, noting that investigations into cybercrime were already underway before he assumed office.

“The FBI did not make the requests today, those requests were pending before I became minister,” he said.

According to the Minister, the challenge was not a lack of intelligence or cooperation from international partners, but the deliberate leaking of information from within, which enabled suspects to evade law enforcement.

“But in the past, people were leaking the information to the targets and helping them evade arrest,” he stated.

Sam George said he took a firm stance upon becoming minister to put an end to what he described as internal sabotage of security operations, stressing that restoring Ghana’s international reputation requires decisive action and strict confidentiality.

“I made a commitment when I became minister. That anything that we would do to clean up the image of Ghana internationally, we will,” he said.

He linked the issue of information leaks directly to Ghana’s wider challenges with digital credibility, pointing out that cyber fraud has negatively affected the country’s standing with global technology and payment platforms.

“They will blacklist Ghana as long as there’s fraud happening in Ghana,” he said, referencing platforms such as PayPal, TikTok and Meta.

The Minister explained that when arrests are frustrated through leaked information, cybercrime continues, making it difficult for the government to assure international platforms that Ghana is a safe and reliable digital environment.

“As we clamp down on cyber crime, it makes our case stronger as we talk to the platforms to monetise and say that Ghana is a peaceful destination, a safe haven, and that illicit flows will not come through here,” he said.

Sam George also noted that the actions of a few individuals who leak information for personal or criminal gain have far reaching consequences for law abiding citizens, particularly content creators and young people who depend on online platforms for income.

“If you have a few people depriving the majority who are doing legitimate work on social media, content creators, the reason you can’t monetise and get value for your craft is because a few people have chosen to give Ghana a bad name,” he said.

He dismissed claims that economic hardship should be used to justify criminal activity or interference with law enforcement operations.

“The excuse and argument that there are no jobs. Then should we say that we shouldn’t arrest armed robbers as well because everybody will have a reason for crime,” he added.

The Minister’s remarks come at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to strengthen internal controls, deepen collaboration with international partners, and prevent leaks that could undermine investigations into cyber fraud and other digital crimes.

The Chief Operating Officer of Fintech Solutions, Cristina J. S. Swan Awagah, has expressed concern over the increasing cases of online fraud and called for stronger cybersecurity habits particularly among young people.

Speaking at the Africa Digital Dialogue on Friday, November 7, 2025, under the theme “Beyond Mobile Money: Fintech’s Next Frontiers,” she emphasized that oversharing personal information online has become one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to exploit individuals.

The dialogue, hosted by MG Digital in partnership with the Africa Digital Foundation, formed part of the annual Africa Digital Festival (ADF)—a major event celebrating innovation and digital transformation across the continent. This year’s edition brought together policymakers, investors, creators, and startups from over 20 African countries to promote collaboration in FinTech, AgriTech, e-Health, and Artificial Intelligence.

Cristina Awagah highlighted that as fintech adoption expands, the importance of digital literacy and online safety cannot be overstated. With many young Africans active on social media, she cautioned that weak passwords and the habit of sharing personal milestones online make users vulnerable to cyberattacks.

“A lot of fraud cases now involve the youth. We give away so much information on social media—birthdays, personal details—and even use those same details as passwords for our important accounts,” she said. “We must learn how to create strong passwords and understand what information to share and what to keep private.”

Eunice A. Ankomah, a Strategic Communications and DFS Professional, also called on financial service providers to move beyond flashy marketing campaigns and focus on building trust through customer education.

“Adoption is not driven by beautiful campaigns but by trust,” she noted. “Financial service providers must ensure that customers truly understand the services being offered. When customers are educated, they’re less likely to fall victim to fraud caused by negligence.”

She further stressed the need for inclusive communication strategies, explaining that not all customers can read or access SMS notifications.

“In customer education, it’s important to know who you’re addressing and how best they receive information. What about the elderly woman in a rural area with no formal education? How can we ensure she understands how to protect her PIN? We shouldn’t generalize—every customer needs a communication approach that works for them,” she added.

Technology and innovation expert Emmanuel Kpiki also shared how fintech institutions are tightening internal systems to protect clients’ data.

“We regularly audit our systems and ensure that when staff leave an organization, their access rights are immediately revoked,” Kpiki explained. “We’ve implemented cybersecurity directives to strengthen institutional frameworks, prevent transaction fraud, and enhance data encryption and decryption processes.”

The Africa Digital Dialogue concluded that as fintech continues to evolve, the next phase of Africa’s digital economy will depend heavily on cybersecurity, consumer trust, and financial literacy. Beyond mobile money, participants agreed that true innovation must be built on a foundation of safety, education, and ethical digital practices.