Digital Divide in Africa Persists as Access Remains a Key Barrier
Africa’s digital inclusion challenge remains rooted in access, with a usage gap of 60%, according to the GSMA 2024 report, underscoring the continent’s struggle to bridge the divide.
Speaking at the African Prosperity Dialogue 2025, Shaibu Haruna, CEO of Mobile Money Limited, a subsidiary of MTN Ghana, called for greater collaboration between governments and service providers to tackle the issue.
“There are fundamental issues around digital literacy that need to be addressed, and this requires a concerted effort between policymakers and industry players,” he said.
The lack of infrastructure further compounds the challenge. Christin McConnell, Chief of Education at UNICEF Ghana, revealed that 90% of primary schools in Ghana lack internet connectivity, limiting digital education opportunities for the next generation.
“Most primary and junior high schools are without ICT equipment. On the teacher side, only half have received any form of ICT training,” she noted, highlighting the scale of the problem.
The African Prosperity Dialogues serves as a high-level platform aimed at translating the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) into tangible economic policies.
With leaders from across the continent convening annually, the initiative seeks to accelerate Africa’s economic integration by addressing structural barriers to growth.
