We are very pleased to announce the appointment of three outstanding digital development leaders to the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP) board. Their significant experience, broad skills, and commitment to our mission make them valuable members of our team.
“Today’s announcement is another important step in strengthening our governance and deepening our commitment to our mission. And we are honored to have the opportunity to work more closely with Honorable Minister Ursula, Thelma, and Kojo in this new capacity. We’re fortunate they have agreed to join us as colleagues on the board,” said Jean Philbert Nsengimana, chair of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership.
“The new board members’ experiences and backgrounds expand the technical, geographic, and gender diversity of the board, reflecting the global nature of our work. They will help us deepen engagement with our partners and communities where our work is focused: the global majority.”
Please help us warmly welcome Hon. Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Thelma Quaye, and Kojo Boakye.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation for the Republic of Ghana and a three-term Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West constituency. As the Minister of Communications, she has oversight of the government’s infrastructure programme for the ICT Sector, the development of a robust framework to support the digitalisation of the economy and the scaling up of e-government services with national broadband and total connectivity for the unserved and underserved at the heart of the agenda.
She is passionate about supporting the local tech startup ecosystem, nurturing the development of indigenous technology and encouraging women, children and persons with disabilities to engage in ICT.
Thelma Quaye currently works as Chief Digital Infrastructure, Skills and Empowerment Officer at Smart Africa, an alliance of African countries, international organizations, and global private sector players tasked with setting the continent’s digital agenda. In her role, she supports African governments to transform their economies into digital ones through the building blocks of digital infrastructure, capacity building and inclusivity through the empowerment of women and girls into ICT.
Before joining Smart Africa, she worked at Airtel Ghana Limited as the Chief Technical Officer responsible for running the Airtel network. She was the first female network director across the Airtel Africa group. She has also worked with the ITU, UN Women, and African Union as a lead trainer in coding and soft skills for girls across Africa.
Kojo Boakye is Meta’s Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, Middle East and Turkey. He’s an experienced ICT for development practitioner with 19 years of experience working with governments, fixed-line and mobile operators, development partners, online service providers, content creators and civil society organizations. Before joining Meta more than six years ago, he was the Deputy Director of the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) and the Head of Research and Consultancy at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) before that.
In recent years, his work has focused on broadband affordability; the use of mobile infrastructure and devices for the delivery of social services; strategic planning for ICT regulators; tech regulation of content, privacy and competition; and the evolution of the Metaverse. Among other things, he sits on the board for Junior Achievement Africa and Chairs its Digital Innovation Committee.
“The new board members’ experiences and backgrounds expand the technical, geographic, and gender diversity of the board, reflecting the global nature of our work. They will help us deepen engagement with our partners and communities where our work is focused: the global majority.”
Our board plays a critical role in guiding our organization’s strategic direction and ensuring transparency and accountability in all our work. With the addition of Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Thelma Quaye, and Kojo Boakye, we are establishing a strong, diversified, and well-rounded team to take us forward.
We would also like to take this opportunity to recognize outgoing board member Funke Opeke for her service and invaluable contribution. Her strong commitment, strategic guidance, and generous support of our work have been nothing but inspiring. Thank you, Funke!
While we will greatly miss her, we look forward to continuing our work with her and MainOne as an active and reliable member of GDIP in the region.
To learn more about the GDIP board and its members, visit Our Board page.
About GDIP
The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030. Founded by a global team of experts who successfully championed affordable and meaningful connectivity around the world, GDIP advances digital opportunities to empower and support people’s lives and agency, leading to inclusive digital societies.