Ghana, the co-chair of the Commonwealth International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Group with the United Kingdom, has been appointed by consensus, as the Chair of the Group until the next ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2026.

The United Kingdom was appointed as Vice Chair responsible for Europe, India as Vice Chair responsible for Asia, and Trinidad & Tobago as Vice Chair responsible for Americas.

Speaking after the election, Ghana’s Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said: “The Government of Ghana is determined to provide the necessary digital infrastructure, a conducive legal and regulatory environment, build digital capabilities to enhance the adoption and use of ICT and digital innovation, and close all digital gaps to propel our digital transformation.”

In pursuit of this, she reiterated Ghana’s commitment to working with the ITU to achieve its strategic objectives for the benefit of all ITU Member States.

The ITU Plenipotentiary conference consists of the representatives of the member states of the Union.

The plenipotentiary conference is the highest policy-making body of the ITU.

Held every four years, it is the key event at which ITU member states decide on the future role of the organisation thereby determining the organisation's ability to influence and affect the development of ICTs worldwide.

The conference sets the union's general policies; adopts four-year strategic and financial plans; and elects the senior management team of the organisation, the member states of the council, and the members of the Radio Regulations Board.

The plenipotentiary conference 2022 (PP 22) is being held in Bucharest, Romania from Monday, 26 September to Friday, 14 October 2022.

It was preceded by the last meeting of the 2022 session of the council.