Calls to adopt indigenous digital solutions to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) heralded the maiden Africa Digital Conference organised by AIDEC Consultancies.

The conference which had as its theme ‘The Digital Challenge: Africa’s Opportunity under AfCFTA’, saw stakeholders including the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, Ghana Standards Authority, players in the IT and trade sector participate.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ama Pomaa Boateng, said indigenous solutions are crucial for the success of cross-border trade and payment systems, as well as the delivery of equitable social services to people across socio-economic boundaries.

She added that there was the need to systematically create opportunities for homegrown start-ups in the space.

“I believe that if governments can support a vibrant computer hardware manufacturer in one country to supply various schools across the continent, while reciprocating the support to other competitively-advantaged companies in sister countries in other areas of expertise, there will be an increase in the scale upon which these companies can viably establish or cement their operations." she said.

The Deputy Minister added, “these are truly the building blocks toward realising the African digitalisation agenda: which is one of more affordable Internet connectivity, more and cheaper credit, more safety, more foreign direct investments, more technology startups, and wealth-creation among others.”

For his part, Director-General at the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Professor Alex Dodoo, highlighted the need to approach AfCFTA-related solutions with a global outlook.

“Even though we are trading primarily among Africans, we should be competitive globally. We are not trading just with ourselves, we are trading with the rest of the world. Made in Ghana commodities should be as good as anywhere in the world.” he said.

Professor Dodoo added that this can only be achieved if stakeholders from Africa play an active role in shaping the standards for intra-continent and global trade; warning that failure to do so will result in consumption of the “thoughts and processes” of other nations.

Computer Scientist, Professor Nii Narku Quaynor believes, as Africa races towards solutions for payments and settlements, it must remain cognisant of the advances in digital currencies, particularly those backed by blockchain technology, and introduce a continent-wide iteration specifically for intra-African trade.

“We continue to lose billions in intra-African trade by trading in a third currency, particularly the dollar. One forward-looking proposal is to take advantage of advances in cryptocurrencies and blockchain and issue an Africa Union Coin (AUC) to fund the Africa Agenda 2063; and we will trade only in AUC among ourselves while the AU coin might be trading on exchanges for increased value”. he said.

He further called for the active participation of indigenous persons in Internet service provision, as well as standardisation of the educational and professional requirements for participants in the technology space.

Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah revealed that his outfit is contributing its quota to digital-trade under the pact through the ‘Accra app’, which he described as a one-stop-shop for citizen engagement on public services.

Other speakers, including the Head of Regulation at the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Kwame Baah-Acheamfuor and Dean of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Professor Justice Bawole, shared thoughts on what steps their respective institutions are taking to prepare for a digital-first trade zone.