Ghana to host re:publica Accra in December

Impact Hub in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) in Germany, will in December hold a digital festival in Accra to discuss the role of digital technologies in the face of social and economic challenges facing Africa and the world at large.

The event dubbed “re:publica Accra”, will be used as a platform to highlight the connection between development work and digitalization, as well as create an avenue for network among the digital community in West Africa.

Acknowledging Africa as a fast rising continent as the reason for the event being held in Ghana, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Impact Hub Accra, Will Senyo said the event will be used to celebrate Ghanaian excellence and innovators who have displayed extra ordinary skills in a digitize era.

“If you look at the global pan-African digital conversation, Ghana is considered one of the top five most active innovative communities on the continent. Now if you couple that with our strong democratic credentials and our open society and culture, it makes Ghana the perfect place to have this conference. There is also a global focus on Ghanaian innovators and it will be used as an opportunity to celebrate their work and put Ghana and for that matter Africa on the map.

The opportunity here is that we will also get to learn from the European market as we shape our digital culture. We can also find out what mistakes we as a country can avoid making since we want to catch up. There is also the opportunity to put the spotlight on Accra. And because this festival came out of a grassroot culture it’s going to be very eclectic. Finally, we will also use the opportunity to draw government attention to technology and the need to support innovators here in Ghana.”

On his part, the Special Advisor to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Oliver Boachie said government was committed to bridging the technology gap in the country. “The Sector Minister Hon. Frimpong-Boateng has always said that Ghana does not have a poverty gap but a technology gap and that is why we are excited about re:publica being held in Accra.

I am also very happy to see the support and dedication given by the media to this event. Since technology can be used to solve so many issues around us, government is always opened to suggestions which will help deal with some issues like sanitation, galamsey among others. Considering how hard the team is working to put up the show, we are optimistic it will end with success and Ghana finding its place out there.”

The 2018 re:publica Accra event will also focus on Politics and Society, Art and Culture, Economy and Innovation, Science and Education as well as Media and Journalism.

It will come off on December 14 and 15 at the Trade Fair centre in Accra, under the theme: "re:publica Accra - The Next Level.”