Ankara, Turkey – 13 May 2026 – Ghana is participating in the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators 2026, engaging with global counterparts on regulatory approaches for transformative technologies and universal connectivity.
The Ghanaian delegation, led by the Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu (MP).
The Global Symposium for Regulators 2026 [GSR-26] is the ITU’s flagship annual event for telecom and digital regulators. This year it’s being hosted in Ankara, Turkey from 12-15 May 2026, under the theme “Regulation for Impact: Building Trusted Digital Futures.”
GSR-26 brings together heads of regulatory authorities, ministers, industry CEOs, and experts to discuss how regulation can keep pace with rapid tech change. The program is split into workshops, high-level roundtables, and open sessions covering AI, 5G/6G, satellite regulation, digital inclusion, youth online safety, disaster response, and financing digital infrastructure.
Event overview
Day 1 [12 May] focused on practical tools and data for building connectivity. The day opened with a workshop on ICT statistics to advance universal and meaningful connectivity, followed by an executive masterclass on modeling the socio-economic impact of digital infrastructure using ITU’s Global Economic Model Study [GEMS] and the Connectivity Planning Platform [CPP]. These sessions equipped regulators with data-driven approaches and analytical tools to close the digital divide and assess the broader economic benefits of digital investments.
Day 2 and 3 [13-14 May] will shift to high-level policy and forward-looking discussions. Day 2 will feature the Regional Regulatory Associations meeting, the Heads of Regulators’ Executive Roundtable, a BTK side event on the New Space era covering LEO constellations and PNT solutions, and the official Opening Ceremony. Day 3 will open with the High-Level Segment titled “Anticipating: Are we ready for what’s next?” and continued with sessions on transformative technologies, regulatory experimentation, infrastructure development, youth safety, disaster management, and unlocking investment, before closing with the Closing Ceremony. Together, the three days is scheduled to combine technical workshops, closed-door regulatory dialogues, and public sessions to shape trusted, inclusive, and innovation-friendly digital ecosystems.
Day 4 [15 May] sessions will include sharing a strategic imperative to explore collaborative data sharing for better regulation and protecting and Empowering Youth; Safety first.
The discussions and outcomes from GSR-26 often feed into ITU resolutions, national policy reforms, and cross-border regulatory cooperation. It’s also one of the main networking platforms for regulators to align on spectrum, digital markets, and emerging tech governance.
What is GSR-26
GSR-26 is the International Telecommunication Union’s annual Global Symposium for Regulators – a global policy forum that convenes communications regulators and ICT stakeholders to exchange experiences, align regulatory approaches, and set the direction for trusted, inclusive, and innovation-friendly digital ecosystems worldwide
