Former President, John Mahama has urged African leaders to work assiduously to bridge the digital divide between African countries and the West.

He lamented the continent’s lagging in digital technologies, which was further highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the inability of African countries to smoothly transition work and education online.

“Countries with poor energy and power access, low electricity coverage, and limited broadband – internet access – could not stay open to transition some key businesses to the virtual-new-normal,” he said at the African Economic Congress 2021 dubbed Accelerate Africa: Building Back Better.

He stated that the only way for Africa to keep up with the rest of the world was for its leaders to find means and methods to close the divide while expanding access to technology.

“As economies recover, the world will become more digitalized, and we have to be prepared for this. Businesses, people, financial institutions, and governments have to rapidly adjust to this ‘new normal’. A robust digital infrastructure is necessary for a resilient build back,” he said.

He called for Africa’s youths and the older generations to be equipped with Digital education.

This, he says, will enable them to adapt to the internet age and protect them from malicious elements which have been using the internet for their nefarious activities.

“By all legitimate and cost-effective means, let us digitalize!” he said.

He further called for governments to actively drive the digital revolution using regulations, favourable policy, and purchasing power to ensure progressive deployment and use of ICTs.

“We must be thinking ahead. We must be directing technology companies to focus on neglected areas that will impact the lives of our people, such as agribusiness and healthcare. The innovation must not become a bubble that will burst in future,” he charged African leaders.