November 15, 2005, 17:15
by Steven Lang
The African lobby has successfully managed to persuade other nations to come around to the continent's way of thinking on two key issues at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis, Tunisia.
In the negotiating sessions ahead of the formal opening of the summit, there are two different views on this issue - one says that control has to be transferred immediately, while a second opinion, broadly supported by the African lobby argues that transfer should be phased in.
"Africa's position has been that clearly there has been a need for democratic governance, there is a need for a multi-stakeholder approach but let us also recognize the contributions that the founders have bit, and let us work for an evolutionary approach to changing the system, instead of a revolutionary approach which demands that let the changes come now," says Albert Kan-Dapaah, the minister of communications in Ghana, who is also the chairperson of the inter-ministerial committee for Africa that has been preparing for the World Summit on the Information Society.
Gaining momentum
Moreover, it appears that the African viewpoint is gaining momentum among other nations - if only because it is the more pragmatic approach. Financing mechanisms for Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) in developing countries has polarised participants into two distinct camps. Rich countries say there are already enough resources to promote ICTs, while developing nations say there is a need for a special fund.
"Our position was that left to private sector there will never raise the funds to go the underserved areas, they are underserved because there isn't lots money for private sector to make that is why they are not there if you go to most African countries, they are already in places where money can be made. They have not gone to underserved areas because there is simply no money to make there," Kan-Dapaah said.
Once again the African position appears to have prevailed. A digital solidarity fund has been set up, and has already attracted some contributions. At this point, however, it is not clear how the funds are to be spent.
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