Ghana joins Digital Cooperation Organization

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has welcome Ghana as the newest Member State to join its international mission to realize digital prosperity for all.

The country became the twelfth nation to ascend to the DCO, an international organization that was founded to support countries to build their digital economies as an essential driver of sustainable growth and development.

Well-established as a leader in utilizing the power of communications and digital technologies to support economic growth, Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to launch a cellular mobile network in 1992, and one of the first countries in Africa to be connected to the internet and to introduce ADSL broadband services.

The country is also a leader in digital payments and mobile money, with the second-highest data penetration rate and fastest-growing mobile money market in sub–Saharan Africa which has greatly enhanced financial inclusion and as the newest member of the DCO, Ghana is expected to bring that experience and expertise to share with the other Member States.

The DCO Council announced Ghana’s accession alongside Gambia’s which is the thirteenth Member State at the organisation’s 2nd General Assembly.

The accession of the two West African countries, therefore, means the DCO now represents 13 nations and serves around 600 million people with a collective GDP of more than USD 2 trillion.

Commenting on the development at a press conference, Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful said,

“Ghana shares the DCO’s vision of using technology to create opportunities for economic diversity and growth, and to empower our people, especially the youth, through digital and financial inclusion. We look forward to working with our fellow DCO Member States and DCO Observers to share our experience and collaborate in the fields of e-government, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship, and to foster investment in Ghana with member states.”

She indicated that, the country’s addition as Member State of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) will help share knowledge and cooperate on fostering thriving digital economies for prosperity and faster growth.

On her part, H.E. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General, said the DCO was pleased to welcome Ghana to the organisation, saying: “Ghana is one of the leaders among African nations in adopting new technology and in the wise use of policies, such as its Digital Finance Policy, that support new areas of development and bring positive benefits to the community.”

She said the DCO was created to encourage knowledge sharing and exchange for the good of all nations, and she believed that Ghana has many lessons to share with the DCO and our ecosystem of nations.

The DCO, which focuses on digital economy initiatives supporting youth, startup entrepreneurs, and women, now has 12 member states with a combined GDP of over USD 2 trillion and a population of nearly 600 million.

Ghana’s addition to DCO is to make the international mission realize its digital prosperity for all.

Ghana is well-established as a leader in utilizing the power of communications and digital technologies to support economic growth.

Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to launch a cellular mobile network in 1992, and one of the first countries in Africa to be connected to the internet and to introduce ADSL broadband services.

Ghana is also a leader in digital payments and mobile money, with the second-highest data penetration rate and fastest-growing mobile money market in sub–Saharan Africa which has greatly enhanced financial inclusion. As the newest member of the DCO, Ghana will now bring that experience and expertise to share with the other Member States.

About DCO

The DCO is a global multilateral organization founded in November 2020 that aims to enable digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy.

The DCO brings together the Ministries of Communications and IT of 12 nations – Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ghana, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. – that collectively represent nearly $2 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 600 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35.

The DCO is focused on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative power of the digital economy and leapfrogging with innovation to drive economic growth and increase social prosperity.

Through cooperation, dialogue, and the creation of mutually advantageous cross-border legislation, we seek to establish within our member nations the optimal infrastructure and policies for the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies within which all people, businesses, and societies can innovate and thrive.

In pursuit of our members’ common interests – for example, in the areas of digital skills training, data protection, intellectual copyright, regulation, taxation, and entrepreneurship – DCO works collaboratively with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of digital industries.

The DCO’s key initiatives include programs to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for SMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs and advance digital inclusion among women and youth, and other underrepresented populations.