2024 Ghana School on Internet Governance (GhanaSIG) Fellowship: My experience

If there is a quote I took away from GhanaSIG this year that continues to resonate to me, it will be : "Be the fellow! Do not be just a simple participant or an observer but become active and then start contributing." - 'Gbenga Sesan

In the beautiful city of Accra (Ghana), I participated in the face-to-face phase of the Ghana School on Internet Governance Fellowship program. This program is an annual Internet Governance capacity-building fellowship initiated and organized by the E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA) team which aims to allow Ghanaians and other stakeholder groups to gain the necessary knowledge, confidence and skills to participate in the Internet Governance process at the national, regional and global levels. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the inception of the program.

Over 377 applications received for the fellowship this year, I was among the 53 selected participants (40 Ghanaians and 13 International participants) to go through a tough but enriching online learning phase where we had to take 11 ICANN Learning courses. Besides completing the courses, we had to do a weekly presentation followed by discussions where each group will come and summarize and give some highlights on the courses took that week. The weekly discussions were the most for me although I barely find time to attend because of my occupations but I tried hard, that is also what I learned from the program: because I was so excited and eager to make it to the face-to-face, I always make it to attend and actively participate.

After this selective online phase, only 47 of the 53 selected participants qualified for the face-to-face phase in Accra. What a step so far!

Now, coming to the face-to-face that took place from 2nd through 5th of July in the beautiful building of the Association of African Universities secretariat in Accra.

From the day one, we were challenged by the guest speakers to be active and take advantage of the program. Leon Felipe Sánchez, ICANN Board member, speaking to us from Mexico late by night, demonstrated engagement and commitment and that really meant a lot to me. Followed by the charges of Mr. 'Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative Director and a human rights expert, who encouraged us to be the best; to pick our niche within the Internet Governance (IG) and be an expert and a go-to person in that particular domain we choose to explore and then fill the gaps.

The following days, I really learned a lot about the importance of cybersecurity for businesses, the human rights in digital space, women empowerment to bridge the digital divide, and most importantly how I can engage within the IG ecosystem as a techy through the session of Mr. Seun Ojedeji and another session with Mr Raymond Selorm Mamattah, EGIGFA Founder and President. I was introduced to AfNOG Network Monitoring and Measurement track and other Internet Governance instances and communities I can join, listen and contribute to their works.

I was also introduced to the Global Digital Compact (GDC), through the session of Ms. Hadia Elminiawi, AFRALO Chair. She invited us to take a look at the GDC draft and contribute.

The Global Digital Compact is An inclusive global framework.?to overcome digital, data and innovation divides. The purpose of the Global Digital Compact is to establish an inclusive global framework, essential for multi-stakeholder action required to overcome digital, data and innovation divides - UN Website

Let us pause a minute and ask ourselves, why is it worth engaging in the Internet Governance? Simply because if we don't participate in the discussions, other people will do and come up with policies that you and I will have to abide by or affect us in one way or another, be it in our interest or not. So, if you represent a business, a community, a region, and even as an Internet end user, you have to bring your voice to be heard in the Internet Governance ecosystem.

As I am now a graduate of the Ghana School on Internet Governance, I feel loaded, empowered, equipped with the right tools and confident to participate meaningfully in the Internet Governance nationally, regionally and globally. My long-term objective is to be an expert and an IG trainer to bring many other people onboard in order to represent the interest of Africa in the global discussions on Internet Governance. Because as Leon Felipe Sánchez mentioned during our training, "the next billion Internet users will come from Africa" but to achieve this, many works need to be done and it requires everyone's participation - you remember, in the Internet Governance, we talk about the multi-stakeholder model. :)

Appreciations and acknowledgments

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our speakers: Siranush Vardanyan , Jacqueline HansonKotei , Benedict Obirim Sagoe , Glenn McKnight , OLOYEDE Abdulkarim , Godson Charnor , Seun Ojedeji , 'Gbenga Sesan , Behou Brice ABBA , Emmanuel A. Vitus, Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh , Maxwell Beganim , Jacob Odame-Baiden , Raymond Selorm Mamattah , Sarata Omane , Armando Guio Espa?ol , Annela Kiirats , Emmanuel Kwasi Gadasu , Edilson Osorio Junior , STEPHEN DAKYI , Leon Felipe Sánchez for sharing their knowledge, experiences with us.

I am grateful for the meaningful connections I've been able to make and thank you, my 2024 GhanaSIG Fellows for your collaboration, interactions and relationship. I have a great memory of our fellowship. GhanaSIG, More Vim!!!

To the E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA) team and Ghana School on Internet Governance (GhanaSIG) 2024 mentors, Godsway Kubi , Lavish Mawuena Mensah , Carine Malor , Bright Edujih , Nellie Okunor, Frank Anati , and others, I am grateful for the nice experience I had since the beginning of the online sessions to the face-to-face experience. Thank you for all you do!

A big thank-you to the supporters, sponsors and partners: Prince Andrew Livingstone Zutah , Caleb K.A Kuphe , Osei Kagyah , Hanna Wintima, Awal Alhassan, Harry Makafui Kwadzokpo , Alex Clerk, Enoch Thywill Norgbe , STEPHEN DAKYI , Paradigm Initiative , Internet Governance Club (IG Club) , AFRINIC-The Regional Internet Registry for Africa , Africa Cybersecurity and Digital Rights Organisation - ACDRO , OriginalMy , Association of African Universities , IOSCORP.ORG. Your support played a key role in providing us with a great learning environment and we had fun as well!

Special thank you, Bendjedid Rachad Sanoussi for inspiring many of us and connecting youth to the opportunities by sharing them consistently. Indeed, you are doing a great job and the impact speaks for itself.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Abomey-Calavi , ISOCEL - Ici C'est La Fibre for their support and encouragement.

GhanaSIG, More Vim!!

Gbééré Achille.