Ghana Intensifies Diplomatic Push for ITU Council and Radio Regulations Board Seats in Doha

Ghana has stepped up diplomatic engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, holding talks with six countries as the country campaigns for re-election to the ITU Council and a seat on the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, led discussions with delegations from Canada, Qatar, Australia, Romania, Iraq, and Nepal on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, according to a statement from the Ministry . The meetings formed part of Ghana's broader campaign to secure support for its two candidatures and to explore cooperation in telecommunications and digital technology.

A Competitive Race

Ghana is seeking re-election to the ITU Council for the 2027–2030 term, having served on the 48-member governing body during the 2023–2026 cycle . The Council acts as the Union's governing body between Plenipotentiary Conferences, meeting annually in Geneva to oversee ITU policies and strategic direction .

The competition is stiff. Africa holds 13 of the Council's 48 seats, but 19 African countries are contesting—all 13 incumbents, including Ghana, plus six challengers: Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Libya, and Mali. At least six African candidates will leave Doha without a seat .

For the RRB, Ghana has nominated Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA). The RRB plays a critical role in the international management of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, applying and interpreting the Radio Regulations that govern these essential global resources. Twelve members will be elected to the board .

Ghana's Broader Agenda

Beyond the elections, Minister George has used the Doha platform to advocate for Africa's digital interests. Addressing the conference, he called for increased international investment in telecommunications infrastructure, noting that more than half of Africa's population remained offline in 2026 .

He urged the ITU and its member states to prioritise last-mile connectivity and to establish a more equitable framework for access to spectrum and satellite orbits. He also highlighted Ghana's domestic initiatives, including a National AI Compute Centre and the One Million Coders programme, which has attracted more than 140,000 registrations .

On cybersecurity, George cited Ghana's Tier 1 classification in the Global Cybersecurity Index and expressed readiness to share its experience in establishing Computer Emergency Response Teams and Child Online Protection protocols with other member states .

A Platform for Influence

Ghana currently chairs the Commonwealth ITU Group, a position that provides a platform to facilitate dialogue and advance the collective interests of member states in shaping global telecommunications policy .

The Plenipotentiary Conference, which runs from November 9 to 27, is the ITU's supreme organ, held every four years to set the Union's strategic direction and elect its leadership. For Ghana, the outcome of the Council and RRB elections will determine whether the country retains a seat at the table where decisions on spectrum, satellite orbits, and global connectivity are made.

As the Doha negotiations continue, Ghana's diplomats will be working to ensure that the six countries engaged on Wednesday—and others across the conference floor—translate their conversations into votes.