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African Women in Tech Working to Close Digital Divide

Stacey Knott

   ACCRA, GHANA - Women from across Africa are meeting at the annual Women
   in Tech Africa Week, hoping tobring more women into the tech industry
   and combat inequalities in technology use and access, especially for
   economic empowerment.

   Francesca Opoku remembers having to physically send workers to deliver
   messages or documents when she started her small social enterprise in
   Ghana 10 years ago. Today, she works to keep up with fast-developing
   technology to grow her business that produces natural beauty products.
   She also trains women she works with in financial literacy, such as
   using simple mobile technology to manage their money.

   "As a small African business, as you are growing and as you aspire to
   grow globally and your tentacles are widening, the world is just going
   techy," Opoku said. "Business in the world is going techy. It's
   especially relevant in small business. It's the best way to make what
   you are doing known out there."

   She was at the launch of Women In Tech Africa in Accra, with events in
   six other countries including Germany, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Opoku said
   she wants to learn more about how she can use technology to make her
   business grow and to ensure she is not left behind in the technology
   divide.

   Across Africa, this divide means women are 13% less likely to own a
   mobile phone and 41% less likely to use mobile internet than men.

   Women In Tech Africa founder

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