Global Commission on Internet Governance holds meeting

The Global Commission on Internet Governance (GCIG) has held a two-day meeting in Accra to discuss Internet-related opportunities and challenges in Africa, including issues of access and sustainable development.

Chaired by former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, the GCIG is a two-year initiative launched in January 2014 by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Chatham House, and will produce a comprehensive perspective on the future of multi-stakeholder Internet governance.

“The Internet will soon be the infrastructure of all of our other infrastructures,” said Carl Bildt, Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance.

“As a global community, we must consider the opportunities and challenges to ensure Africa has an accessible and open Internet - where human rights are protected and use is safe and secure - that generates growth, development, and prosperity for all nations of this vast continent”.

Mr Bildt said when Sustainable Development Goals is adopted in September, the internet would play a major role in its implementation by all nations of the world.

He lauded Ghana for being one of the leading nations in Africa, which promotes internet usage.

Ms Dorothy Gordon, Director General, Ghana-India Kofi Annan ICT Centre, said a research by a CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey of Internet Security and Trust survey of 23,000 respondents carried out in 24 countries between October 7 and November 12, 2014; indicates that 91 per cent of users say the internet is important for their future in terms of accessing important information and scientific knowledge.

She observed that with increasing number of internet users in Africa, the continent is the next frontier of the internet.