Data Centre and Cloud Computing infrastructure is vital to addressing the challenges associated with the digital infrastructure gaps within the broadband and internet ecosystem in Africa.

As part of its project governance framework, the Smart Africa Secretariat launched the Data Centre and Cloud for Africa Project to address the challenges associated to the Data Centre and Cloud market in Smart Africa Member States.

Regulatory guidelines and standards are key to a successful Data Center and Cloud market in Africa. However, many African countries are yet to develop the required regulatory guidelines and standards to ensure that their respective regulatory bodies can effectively regulate and promote the growth of the Data Centre and Cloud Market.

Most importantly, having a harmonized regulatory framework for the Data Center and Cloud ecosystem in Africa will enhance trade and investment in Africa, hence accelerate Africa opportunity within the global data economy.

For a start, Smart Africa is supporting the Republic of Ghana through the National Information Technology Agency (NITA)for the development of regulatory framework for the Data Center and Cloud ecosystem in Ghana. NITA is the Regulator of the Data Centre and Cloud Market in Ghana.

The inaugural stakeholder meeting (virtual) which was held on Tuesday 24th October 2023 had several of the Data Centre and Cloud Market players in Ghana both in the private and public sector attending. This also included some members and leadership of  the Africa Data Centre Association (ADCA) and the Internal Data Centre Regulation.

Addressing the inaugural stakeholder meeting, the Director General of NITA, Mr. Richard Okyere-Fosu called for inputs and support of all stakeholders and emphasized that Ghana is well-positioned to harness the immense potential of data centre and cloud operations both in Ghana and globally. And by fostering collaboration and stakeholder engagement, this framework will pave the way for innovative solutions, job creation, economic growth, and improved digital services for all Ghanaians. “In an era where we find ourselves where data flows, innovation and drive progress, the significance and of a robust regulatory framework cannot be over overstated” said Mr. Okyere-Fosu.