While some African governments have embraced digital governance, the adoption rate is still very low. 

As the adoption of digital technology ramps up on the continent, African governments want to make their nations more efficient. Enter digital governance, the use of technologies by governments—or their agencies—to deliver better public services and improve accountability. Digital governance initiatives like e-government services, open data, and digital identification systems are still emerging in Africa. By digitising government processes, citizens can access government services—such as tax filings, business registration, health records, and electronic payments—from the comfort of their homes or offices, eliminating the need for long queues and reducing waiting times at government offices. 

Digital governance is off to a slow start in Africa

Although a number of countries across the continent—like Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana—are investing in digital infrastructure and services, progress is uneven. A significant roadblock has been low internet penetration across the continent, with only around 28% of the population connected. Mohammad J. Sear, a futurist and digital government senior advisor, maintains that while access to quality internet remains a key challenge, it goes beyond that.  “The average cost for mobile broadband in many [African] countries remains very high compared to the average per capita income. This makes it very difficult for people to access digital services if they are available. Another challenge relates to institutional capabilities and capacities. The low-income level of African countries is a limiting factor on the required investment for digital governance,” he said.

Victor Famubode, a digital governance specialist, adds that there are issues around policies and regulations, infrastructure, resources, and technology. “It is important to note that digital governance in Africa is evolving because leaders are gradually trying to understand this field. The reason is that it’s a bit nascent in this part of the world because we are still used to old ways of doing things. There is a lot of work that needs to be done around creating awareness in that space,” he told TechCabal.

Why digital governance is important for Africa

Busayo Oluwadamilare Morakinyo, Lead at Creative Ideation Hub UK, says digital governance is a global conversation, and Africa can’t afford to be left out. He said, “Because Africa wants to catch up with the rest of the world, more governments have opened up to digital governance. You can’t speak about this without returning to social media, which has helped democratise information and propelled citizens to put more pressure on the government. Whether governments like it or not, they must join in the open governance conversation. Because most African governments want to be perceived as global, they tend to tilt towards digital governance.”

He, however, noted another challenge is a generational disconnect between African leaders and their citizens. Despite being home to the youngest population on earth, the average age of an African president is reportedly 62.

“A chunk of the people in government don’t understand that the 21st century is full of digital natives, and the fastest way to engage with citizens is when you can reach out to them over the internet. That generational disconnect has made it difficult for these people [African leaders] to engage freely or to be in the public domain,” Morakinyo told TechCabal.

What lies ahead?

Looking ahead, digital governance has the potential to drive continued growth and development in Africa. The continent can build a more inclusive digital economy with increased investment in digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skills development. As the Asian Development Bank Institute noted in this report, successful digital governance is conditional on the level of digitalisation to support two-way communication among stakeholders—the government and the private sector.

In his 80-page manifesto, Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, promises to prioritise implementing government digital services. Morakinyo says for this to work, issues around internet penetration, digital awareness, and investment in skills development and technology must be addressed. 

“I want to be able to see the business of government move strictly to a hybrid nature—offline and online. We need a digital civil service where citizens can engage with government institutions and track their engagement. As a matter of fact, the incoming government should have a policy that sufficiently addresses these issues,” he explained.

Sear believes that for digital government to truly work in Africa, African governments must set the tone regarding strategies and policy frameworks. “The starting point is to develop a long-term vision with a phased approach to execution. Also, the immediate focus should be building core and fundamental institutional capabilities. The third would be to learn from global best practices by collaborating and tapping into the experiences of countries investing in digital governance. Finally, the governments should co-create and collaborate with people, businesses, and other stakeholders,” he told TechCabal.

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Ganiu Oloruntade Reporter, TechCabal

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