Concerns over US government access to Ghanaian data have prompted calls for the country to develop its own email services. Bright Simons, Vice-President and Head of Research at the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, said on Wednesday that reliance on foreign email platforms compromises data privacy.
Speaking at Joy News’ Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy, Simons said, “If we’re worried about our data being exposed to the U.S. government, then we have to literally build our own email services because already the U.S. government sees everything that you put on Gmail or any of those things.” His comments came during a discussion on data exposure and the policy decisions that affect digital services in Ghana.
Simons argued that the widespread use of platforms like Gmail and WhatsApp means personal and business information is vulnerable to foreign surveillance. He urged policymakers to consider how Ghana’s digital infrastructure could be restructured to give citizens more control over their data.
Beyond data privacy, Simons addressed how ordinary Ghanaians are acquiring digital skills outside formal education. He pointed to ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt, as well as e-commerce services, where many users have learned to navigate mapping and geolocation tools through direct experience.
“The second point is that when you look at Uber and all the ride-sharing apps and all the e-commerce apps, a lot of the people that have benefited are ordinary people. Nobody taught them how to use mapping services,” he said. “People have learnt to use geolocation and mapping tools to deliver food and support other commercial activities.”
Simons warned that government regulation could interfere with these informal learning processes. He described policymakers as often becoming “an impediment rather than an enabler” when imposing licensing requirements or local government obligations.
He cited his opposition to licensing proposals for ride-hailing platforms and the backlash over suggested developer licensing rules in Ghana as examples of policy decisions that risk blocking access to technology for many.
“So we have to think about policy as also to include the things that remove barriers and bottlenecks for ordinary people,” Simons said.
The IMANI official also pointed to the popularity of WhatsApp and the growth of YouTube creators as further evidence that digital capabilities are expanding through informal channels. “Who builds schools to teach people how to use WhatsApp? Who builds schools to teach influencers how to do YouTube influencing?” he asked.
Simons maintained that identifying and removing regulatory obstacles is essential to making technology useful and accessible. “Often they are impediments and bottlenecks in their way, and people like us who point them out should not be seen as discussing theory. It’s very practical,” he said.
His call for local email services adds to ongoing debates about data sovereignty in Africa. Governments across the continent face pressure to balance the benefits of global digital platforms with the risks of foreign surveillance and data control.
Simons’ remarks come as digital economies in Ghana and beyond continue to expand rapidly. His focus on practical experiences of ordinary users contrasts with formal education and regulatory attempts to manage the fast-evolving digital landscape.
According to Joy Online.
