Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor, Chair of the Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter and Africa Internet pioneer has been awarded the 2015 ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos Award during the opening ceremony of ICANN 53 in Buenos Aires. 

Prof. Quaynor was recognized for his historical and current role in ICANN and the global Internet community. He was instrumental in establishing AFRINIC and AFNOG in Africa, and has been referred to as the father of the Internet in Africa for his unwavering commitment over the past two decades in pioneering Internet development and expansion on the continent.

The ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos award program was created in 2014 to recognize ICANN participants who have deeply invested in consensus-based solutions and the importance of ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model to Internet Governance.

“To me, this is a testimony that ICANN in its own way is international and open. Someone from the developing world can contribute and be recognized by his peers in ICANN,” said Quaynor.

“In 2007 Prof. Quaynor was awarded the prestigious Jon Postel Award for contributing towards the development in Africa and in 2013 he was inducted into the Internet Hall of fame.  The ISOC Ghana Chapter congratulates Prof. Quaynor for this feat,” said Marcus Adomey, President of ISOC Ghana Chapter.   

Prof. Quaynor was awarded alongside Cheryl Langdon Orr, a community leader who is based in Australia and has served in numerous GNSO, CCNSO and ALAC Cross community working groups over the years.

Both award winners met the criteria in such distinctive ways compelling organisers to give two Awards this year to recognize their outstanding work and commitment to the global Internet community

The Awards recognize members from the global Internet community who have demonstrated an incredible dedication to the multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance.