RAIC 2026 highlights need for Africa to control data and AI systems

By Buertey Francis BORYOR

Rethink Africa Intelligence (RAI), a Pan-African intelligence ecosystem has called on African countries to build systems that retain and process data locally, stressing that data and artificial intelligence are emerging as the continent’s most valuable resources in the 21st century.

President of RIA, Josua Opoku Agyemang, in an interview with the media at the ongoing Rethink Africa Intelligence Conference 2026 (RAIC 2026) in Accra, said the continent risks repeating its history of exporting raw resources if it fails to take control of its data in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

“Africa must move beyond dependence on foreign digital infrastructure and develop systems that allow it to store, process and commercialise its own data. The continent’s past was shaped by the export of raw materials such as gold and cocoa, with limited value addition, and a similar pattern is emerging in the digital era. The new gold in this century is data. We must build our own intelligence systems that reflect our cultures, languages and realities,” Agyemang stressed.

He expressed worry that, large volumes of data generated across Africa are processed and controlled outside the continent, limiting the ability of countries to derive economic value and develop homegrown innovations. Additionally, he said reliance on foreign artificial intelligence systems poses risks, as such platforms are often not designed to reflect African contexts or priorities.

“They do not understand our languages, our cultures or how we live,” he said, adding that this disconnect undermines efforts to use technology to address local challenges.

The conference is being held under the theme, ‘Building Africa’s Intelligence Ecosystem for Sovereignty and Prosperity’– anchored on three key pillars: ecosystem, sovereignty and prosperity.

On the ecosystem approach, Agyemang explained that the development of the continent’s intelligence systems must involve collaboration across government, academia, industry, youth groups and other stakeholders. “Africa has always been community-driven, and that same approach must guide how we build our intelligence systems,” he said.

Regarding sovereignty he said: “Data sovereignty remains central to the continent’s digital future. Control over data and intelligence systems is essential for maintaining economic independence and shaping development outcomes. Without such control, African countries will continue to depend on external platforms that may not align with their long-term interests.”

Highlighting the link between data and economic growth, he stated that the ability to transform data into products and services will drive prosperity in the years ahead. “Prosperity comes from how well you turn your resources into value, and today, data is one of those key resources,” he said.

Pointing to demographic trends, he said the continent is projected to have a population of about 2.4 billion people by 2050, with a significant proportion being young and digitally inclined- warning that without deliberate efforts to build local intelligence systems, Africa risks becoming heavily dependent on imported AI technologies. “If we do not act, we will end up consuming systems we do not control,” he said.

With respect to Ghana, he cited existing and emerging initiatives aimed at strengthening data protection and guiding the use of artificial intelligence. According to him, investments in data infrastructure, including local data centres, and regulations to limit the export of raw data will be essential steps.

The two-day conference, is being co-hosted with partners including Google, Kofi Annan ICT Centre, and GI-KACE– bringing together stakeholders from across sectors to discuss the continent’s digital future.

Mr. Agyemang said the second day of the event will focus on practical training, particularly for young people, to equip them with skills to use artificial intelligence tools productively. “We want the youth to move beyond just using AI for fun and begin to create value with it,” he said.

The workshop sessions, he added, will provide hands-on training in using AI tools for problem-solving, content creation and innovation.

According to the President of RAI, the broader goal of the conference is to inspire a shift in thinking about the continent’s role in the global AI landscape and the need to build systems that reflect its identity and priorities.

Rethink Africa Intelligence’s mission 

RAI’s mission is to catalyse a pan-African AI revolution that drives economic growth and social impact across all 54 nations. The pan-African intelligence ecosystem serves as the intellectual engine for continental progress.

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