Tracks
TRACK 1 — Governance, Institutions & Rule of Law
Chair: Hon. Frederick Opare-Ansah
BIOGRAPHY
Hon. Frederick Opare-Ansah is one of Ghana’s most experienced governance and communications policy leaders. A four-time Member of Parliament, he has served as Deputy Minister of Communications, Minority Chief Whip, and Member of the ECOWAS Parliament. His career spans digital policy formulation, parliamentary oversight, and national institutional reforms. He also chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Communications and previously served as Chairman of Ghana Telecom University and Managing Director of ThirdRail Technologies. At AFDEG, he leads Track 1 on Governance, Institutions & Rule of Law, guiding a continental agenda for strengthening institutional accountability and digital-era governance transformation.
TRACK 2 — Citizen Participation & Inclusion
Chair: H.E. Ambassador Sylvia Annoh
BIOGRAPHY
H.E. Ambassador Sylvia Annoh is a distinguished diplomat, governance communicator, and expert in citizen–state engagement. She served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark and previously led the Public Affairs Directorate of the Electoral Commission for more than two decades, managing national civic education, media relations, and stakeholder communications. Her leadership has been central to promoting transparency, voter engagement, and conflict-sensitive public communication. At AFDEG, she chairs the Citizen Participation & Inclusion Track, where she advances digital pathways for inclusive governance, participatory policy-making, and civil society empowerment across Africa.
TRACK 3 — Digital Education & Capacity Building
Chair: Prof. Kenneth Ofori Boateng
Co-Chair: British Council
BIOGRAPHY
Prof. Kenneth Ofori Boateng is an accomplished scholar in education technology, higher education management, and digital capacity development. He has led academic programmes and collaborated with ministries, UNESCO, the British Council, and EdTech innovators to reform digital learning ecosystems across Africa. His expertise spans digital pedagogy, teacher training, curriculum innovation, and AI-enabled education systems. As Chair of the Digital Education & Capacity Building Track, Prof. Boateng oversees the design of frameworks to bridge Africa’s digital skills gap, strengthen national workforce development systems, and accelerate the adoption of inclusive digital learning platforms.
TRACK 4 — Cybersecurity, AI & Digital Trust
Chair: Dr. Clement Daah
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Clement Daah is a cybersecurity and emerging technology specialist whose work spans AI governance, blockchain-enabled trust systems, and national cyber resilience. Holding a PhD in Cybersecurity, Blockchain, and AI, he has supported governments, private sector entities, and international organisations in designing secure, ethical, and resilient digital ecosystems. He is a member of the AFDEG Steering Committee and a thought leader in digital trust architecture, regulatory harmonisation, and cybercrime prevention. As Chair of the Cybersecurity, AI & Digital Trust Track, Dr. Daah leads continental dialogues on digital safety, AI ethics, data protection, and trust-building technology in public governance.
TRACK 5 — Digital Economy, Infrastructure & Innovation
Chair: Dr. Anthony Njoku
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Anthony Njoku is a respected digital transformation strategist and infrastructure governance expert with over 20 years of experience across the UK’s technology, public administration, and innovation sectors. He has led national digital programmes for organisations such as the UK Food Standards Agency, NHS Digital, and major engineering and finance institutions. As Founder of Skills Gateway, he has helped thousands of learners build digital and employability skills across the UK and Africa. His expertise spans digital infrastructure, transformation strategy, AI adoption, and innovation ecosystems. At AFDEG, he chairs the Digital Economy, Infrastructure & Innovation Track, shaping continental strategies for scaling Africa’s digital economic future.
TRACK 6 — Economic Transformation & Digital Trade
Chair: Dr. Rexford Attah-Boakye
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Rexford Attah-Boakye is a leading economist and digital finance researcher with a strong focus on governance reform, financial inclusion, and cross-border trade systems. His work examines how digital payments, blockchain, and mobile financial technologies can support economic transformation and transparent trade under the AfCFTA. He has consulted for governments, DFIs, academic institutions, and development partners on digital finance, SME ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks. As Chair of the Economic Transformation & Digital Trade Track, he guides AFDEG’s efforts to design Africa-wide digital trade models, strengthen regulatory ecosystems, and catalyse investment into the continent’s digital commerce landscape.
TRACK 7
Chair: To Be Announced
TRACK 8 — Digital Broadcasting & Media for Governance
Chair: Mr. George Twumasi
BIOGRAPHY
George Twumasi is a pioneering African media executive and thought leader in public-interest broadcasting, digital media innovation, and the cultural economy. As Founder of ABN Holdings and the Africa Public Interest Media Initiative, he has championed the creation of a pan-African public broadcasting framework that amplifies African narratives and strengthens democratic engagement. His experience spans media strategy, broadcasting, digital streaming systems, and cultural policy. At AFDEG, Mr. Twumasi chairs the Digital Broadcasting & Media for Governance Track, integrating storytelling, cultural expression, and media innovation into governance transformation across Africa.
TRACK 9 — Regional & Global Collaboration for Digital Governance
Chair: Commonwealth Secretariat Representative (TBA)
BIO
The Regional & Global Collaboration Track will be led by a nominated senior representative of the Commonwealth Secretariat. This role involves coordinating with the African Union Commission, ECOWAS, and global governance institutions to harmonise policies and strengthen Africa’s influence in global digital governance arenas. The Chair will guide dialogues on cross-border digital frameworks, Continental–Global alignment, and partnership development with organisations such as the UN, World Bank, OECD, and EU.
TRACK 10 — Innovation & Investment (Dragon’s Den)
Chair: Mr. Joe Frans
BIO
Joe Frans is a global innovation advocate, former Member of the Swedish Parliament, and venture capitalist with deep experience in digital entrepreneurship, governance technology, and African diaspora finance. He has championed innovation-driven development and served as a mentor, investor, and advisor to start-ups across multiple continents. At AFDEG, he chairs the Innovation & Investment Track, the Forum’s flagship Dragon’s Den platform, creating high-impact pathways for African innovators to access investment, mentorship, and policy support.
TRACK 11 — Academic Track (Research, Policy & Knowledge Exchange)
Chair: Dr. Kweku Adams
BIO
Dr. Kweku Adams is an established academic leader in governance research, digital education, and policy studies. His work bridges academia, public policy, and digital transformation, with a track record of publications and collaborations across Africa and the global research community. As Chair of AFDEG’s Academic Track, he leads the Forum’s research backbone—coordinating the call for papers, peer review processes, knowledge exchange sessions, and academic policy translation for continental reform.
TRACK 12 — Digital Agriculture, Food Security & Climate Resilience
Chair: Prof. Edward Ebo Onumah
BIO
Prof. Edward Ebo Onumah is a respected agricultural economist and thought leader in agribusiness, digital agriculture, food systems, and climate-smart development. As Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Ghana, he has led research and advisory work on agriculture digitalisation, climate resilience, and value-chain innovation across Africa. At AFDEG, he chairs the Digital Agriculture Track, driving multi-stakeholder collaboration on AgriTech, climate analytics, digital platforms for farmers, and continental food security frameworks.
TRACK 13 — Legal Frameworks, Governance Reform & Institutional Capacity
Chair: Hon. Victoria Bright
MEDIUM BIO
Hon. Victoria Bright is a highly accomplished legal professional and governance reform expert whose work spans regulatory innovation, public sector reform, and digital-ready legal frameworks. She has advised governments, regulators, and international organisations on procurement reform, PPP frameworks, insolvency law, and digital regulatory technology (RegTech). At AFDEG, she chairs the Legal Frameworks Track, leading Africa-wide efforts to modernise legal ecosystems through technology, strengthen institutional capacity, and advance AfCFTA-aligned harmonisation.
TRACK 14 — Digital Intelligence for Africa’s Distributed Energy Future
Chair: Mr. Ekow Sintim Aboagye
BIO
Ekow Sintim Aboagye is a leading expert in digital intelligence for energy systems, with deep experience in AI, IoT, blockchain, and climate-focused digital infrastructure. His work focuses on integrating digital governance, energy optimisation, finance enablement, and carbon accountability into Africa’s distributed energy future. He has collaborated with energy regulators, fintech innovators, and global development partners on decentralised grid innovation. As Chair of the Digital Intelligence & Distributed Energy Track, he drives AFDEG’s vision for a smart, sustainable, and digitally governed energy landscape across the continent.
