Former Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has underscored the critical link between digitalisation and artificial intelligence, warning that Africa’s future in the digital era depends heavily on building strong digital systems first.
Speaking at the LSE Africa Summit 2026 held at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Saturday, March 28, Dr Bawumia described artificial intelligence as the next major phase of the digital age, one that will redefine governance, economies, and everyday life.
He explained that while AI presents vast opportunities for transformation, countries that have not fully embraced digitalisation will struggle to take advantage of it. Citing insights from Estonia’s e-Governance Academy, he noted that the coming decade will be defined by how governments and societies integrate artificial intelligence into their operations.
Addressing the possibility of African countries bypassing digitalisation to directly adopt AI, Dr Bawumia dismissed the idea, stressing that such a leap is unrealistic. Instead, he urged nations across the continent to actively participate in the ongoing AI evolution while strengthening their digital infrastructure.
He further referenced the International Monetary Fund’s 2023 AI Preparedness Index, pointing out that African countries considered ready for the AI transition—including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa—are also among the most digitally advanced on the continent. According to him, this is not by chance but a reflection of the strong connection between digital readiness and AI capability.
Dr Bawumia emphasised that artificial intelligence relies heavily on data, which in turn depends on robust digital systems. Without widespread digitalisation, he said, it is impossible to generate the large volumes of data and computational power required to support modern AI technologies.
His remarks come at a time when African nations are increasingly exploring ways to leverage technology to drive development, with growing attention on how digital transformation can position the continent to benefit from the global AI wave.
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