Ghana and Malawi have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and knowledge sharing in digital transformation, public sector innovation and the delivery of digital public services.
The commitment was made when a delegation from Malawi visited the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations as part of a study tour of Ghana’s digital transformation initiatives and public sector innovations.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, the Deputy Minister, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, said Ghana was pleased to share its experience in using digital technologies to support sustainable development and improve public service delivery.
He said Ghana’s digital transformation agenda has focused on investments in digital infrastructure, digital identity, cybersecurity, e-government services, digital skills development and innovation ecosystems.
The engagement allowed officials from both countries to exchange experiences, share lessons and explore practical approaches to addressing common challenges associated with digital transformation in Africa.
The Malawian delegation, led by the Deputy Chief Secretary at the Office of the President and Cabinet, Stuart Ligomeka, expressed appreciation for Ghana’s reception and described the country as an important reference point for Malawi’s digital transformation efforts.
Mr Ligomeka said Malawi’s decision to undertake the study tour followed a review of international experiences, which identified Ghana as having made significant progress in using digital technologies and information and communications technology to transform public services.
He said the tour was intended to provide Malawi with practical insights to inform its own digital transformation agenda, particularly in the areas of digital government systems, institutional arrangements and approaches to delivering digital public services.
The delegation also highlighted the historical ties between Ghana and Malawi, including the relationship between Ghana and Malawi’s first president, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who studied and lived in Ghana for several years.
Mr Ligomeka stressed the importance of sustained technical cooperation between the two countries, proposing continued engagement between technical teams from Ghana and Malawi.
He said collaboration among African countries was essential to developing stronger and more responsive digital systems across the continent.
“We are one people and one Africa, and it is important for us to share knowledge and our experiences so that together we can build a better Africa,” he said.
The Malawian delegation also called for continued government-to-government engagement and said technical experts from both countries could pursue further cooperation in areas requiring specialised expertise and knowledge exchange.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Alexander Yaw Arphul; Director of General Administration, Alfred Nortey; Director of Innovations, Emmanuel Ofori; Director of International Relations, Dede Laborki Ofei; and other deputy directors of the Ministry.
Other members of the Malawian delegation included Principal Secretary for Reforms at the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Luckie Sikwese; Principal Secretary for Finance, Patrick Maranda; Principal Secretary for Monitoring and Evaluation, Samson Ngutwa; Principal Secretary for E-Government, Prosper Mopiwa; and Clerk to the Cabinet at the Office of the President and Cabinet, Marjorie Shema.
