The Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, in collaboration with key stakeholders, commemorated 30 years of the Internet in Ghana with a special event held in Accra. The celebration highlighted Ghana’s remarkable digital journey and underscored the urgent need to protect and expand internet access for all citizens.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, Ghana’s renowned Internet pioneer, urged the government to refrain from restricting or shutting down internet access, particularly during national elections. He cautioned that such actions could harm the economy, disrupt essential services like healthcare and education, and erode public trust. Prof. Quaynor further emphasized that affordable and reliable connectivity is critical to national development and economic growth. He also encouraged greater investment in local digital innovations, stressing the importance of ensuring that Ghanaians not only use the internet but also own and shape it to serve local needs.
Other distinguished speakers — including Mr. Eric Yankah, the first internet subscriber of Ghana Dot Com; Madam Dorothy Gordon, former Director General of the Kofi Annan ICT Centre; Mr. Emmanuel Kwarteng, Country Director of MainOne; and Mrs. Maud Ashong Elliot, President of the Internet Society Ghana Chapter. echoed the call for collaboration, digital inclusion, and coordinated policy efforts across Africa to strengthen connectivity.
