Bawumia In London: Africa Risks Missing AI Revolution

Former Vice President and 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned African leaders that the continent could miss out on the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution if it fails to address critical infrastructure and policy gaps.

Speaking at the 2026 Africa Summit hosted by the London School of Economics, Dr. Bawumia stressed that Africa’s participation in the AI era depends not on ambition alone, but on deliberate investment in digital foundations. Addressing the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Uniting Borders in Africa,” he described AI as an urgent development priority rather than a distant technological goal.

Reflecting on history, Dr. Bawumia noted that Africa largely missed previous industrial revolutions due to weak technological investment and limited strategic direction. He warned that the current wave of innovation—driven by AI, big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things—represents a defining moment the continent cannot afford to ignore.

He argued that Africa’s main challenge is not a shortage of talent, but the absence of strong ecosystems to support innovation. Without the right policies and infrastructure, he said, promising ideas will struggle to scale into meaningful economic impact.

Central to his message was the need for reliable foundational systems. He identified unstable electricity supply, limited broadband access, and underdeveloped data infrastructure as major barriers to progress. Although some improvements have been made in internet access and electrification, he said significant disparities persist across countries and regions.

According to Dr. Bawumia, internet penetration in Africa remains uneven, and while millions have gained access in recent years, the quality of that access—particularly in terms of affordability, speed, and reliability—continues to lag behind global standards. Similarly, inconsistent power supply undermines the stability required for digital technologies to function effectively at scale.

He warned that without addressing these basic challenges, AI deployment could remain limited and even deepen inequality by benefiting only a small segment of the population.

The cost of mobile data was another concern he raised. While some countries, including Ghana, have relatively competitive pricing, affordability remains a major barrier for many low-income households, especially in economies dominated by informal employment. He cautioned that without affordable data, digital transformation risks excluding millions of people.

On the issue of jobs, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged concerns about AI-driven disruption but emphasized that the technology is more likely to reshape work than eliminate it entirely. He explained that AI can enhance productivity and transform tasks across sectors, but stressed the importance of preparing the workforce through skills training and supportive policies.

He also called for an African-centred approach to AI development, noting that the continent’s large informal sector requires tailored solutions. Policies, he said, must support small businesses, expand access to digital tools, and promote inclusive economic growth.

A key theme of his address was regional cooperation. Dr. Bawumia argued that Africa’s success in the AI era will depend on collaboration rather than fragmented national efforts. He urged countries to harmonise digital regulations, invest in shared infrastructure, and deepen market integration to allow innovation to scale across borders.

He highlighted initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area as important platforms for enabling digital trade and data exchange, helping the continent build its own technological capacity.

To move forward, he outlined several priorities for policymakers, including investment in reliable electricity and broadband, the development of secure data systems, expansion of digital skills training, and the establishment of ethical standards for AI use. He also stressed the need to strengthen public sector capacity to adopt and manage technology effectively.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Bawumia expressed optimism about Africa’s potential. He pointed to emerging innovations such as mobile-based “small AI” applications already making an impact in agriculture, healthcare, and education as evidence that progress is possible.

In closing, he urged African leaders to act decisively and treat digital transformation as a core economic priority. He warned that delay could lead to another missed opportunity but maintained that with the right strategies, Africa can become not just a consumer of technology, but a global leader in AI innovation.

The summit brought together policymakers, academics, and innovators from around the world to explore Africa’s role in the evolving digital economy, with Dr. Bawumia’s remarks standing out as a key highlight.