Rethinking the future of Africa in AI Era
The Rethink Africa Intelligence inaugural Conference (RAIC) is set to take place in Accra, Ghana on the 10-11 April, 2026.
This is a move to redefine the continent’s role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The high-level gathering aims to chart a new course for Africa’s digital future, shifting the narrative from technology consumption to indigenous innovation and ownership.
Under the theme “Building Africa’s Intelligence Ecosystem for Sovereignty and Prosperity,” the conference will transform the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) into a hub of strategic dialogue.
The event is a powerful collaboration between global tech giant Google, Ghana’s premier technology capacity-building institution GI-KACE (Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT), and the innovation-focused IoT Network Hub.
From Consumers to Creators
The core mission of RAIC 2026 is to catalyze a shift in Africa’s technological paradigm. For too long, the continent has been a significant market for foreign-built digital tools.
The conference’s vision is to foster a “sovereign African intelligence ecosystem”—one that is ethical, inclusive, and globally competitive, yet rooted in African realities.
This vision will be pursued through a multi-faceted approach that brings together the entire spectrum of the innovation value chain. The conference objectives are designed to be both aspirational and actionable:
Policy and Governance: Facilitating high-level dialogue among African Heads of State and policymakers on creating robust frameworks for AI governance, data privacy, and digital sovereignty.
Investment and Growth: Mobilizing capital to fuel African AI startups and strengthen research institutions, ensuring that the continent’s brightest minds have the resources to build world-class solutions.
Collaboration and Partnership: Bridging the gap between governments, universities, the private sector, and grassroots innovation hubs to create a cohesive and thriving intelligence economy.
Continental Initiatives: Serving as a launchpad for cross-border research partnerships and pan-African intelligence projects that tackle shared challenges and unlock collective potential.
A Powerful Triad of Co-Creators
The strength of RAIC 2026 lies in the unique synergy of its co-creators. Google brings global technical expertise and a perspective on scalable AI solutions.
GI-KACE contributes a deep legacy of building ICT human capacity and driving digital policy within Ghana and beyond.
The IoT Network Hub ensures the conference remains grounded in the practical, on-the-ground realities of the startup and innovation community.
This blend of global insight, institutional knowledge, and grassroots energy positions the conference as a credible and dynamic platform for real change.
Shaping the Intelligence Economy
As the world grapples with the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence, RAIC 2026 arrives at a critical juncture. The conversations in Accra will not be abstract; they will focus on building intelligent systems designed for African realities from AI-driven agricultural solutions and fintech innovations to smart infrastructure and localized healthcare diagnostics.
By positioning Africa as a proactive contributor to the global AI landscape, the Rethink Africa Intelligence Conference 2026 aims to lay the groundwork for a future where the continent’s prosperity is powered by its own ingenuity.
All eyes will be on Accra this April as stakeholders gather to build the blueprint for Africa’s sovereign digital tomorrow.
