Ghanaian law tech expert plans pan-African hangout to foster innovation
Ghanaian law tech expert, Michel Nkansah, currently based in the United Kingdom, is spearheading an initiative to unite professionals in the law tech and innovations sector across Africa.
Nkansah recently shared his vision of creating a platform for collaboration and development within the industry in an interaction with the Global South World.
Reflecting on the success of the inaugural hangout held in Accra, Ghana in 2023, Nkansah emphasised the need to bridge the gap for individuals seeking support and community in advancing their skills in the sector. He expressed his motivation to expand this initiative beyond Ghanaian borders, aiming to cultivate a pan-African network of innovators.
"I think there’s been so much than I expected, quite a lot of good outcomes out of the law tech hangout. It started as a small thing, trying to hang out with a few people I know within the innovation space but it went bigger through the internet and Twitter, I got a larger audience to come and hang out. The first thing we observed was that there were a lot of people doing stuff within the innovation space in Accra who didn’t have other people to speak to so there was a lack of community," Nkansah remarked.
One of the key outcomes of the gathering was the facilitation of discussions among stakeholders from various sectors, including government, law firms, and academia. Nkansah highlighted the importance of shaping conversations to address issues facing the legal and technological sector in Africa.
He noted, “The biggest benefit of the hangout was that we brought everybody within the country together. We have a sense of community now; the numbers are around 700 plus. Another benefit we had out of the hangout was that, we shaped conversations…we had people ranging from government, law firms and students. So, there was a centre where stakeholders were present to shape conversations.”
Looking ahead, Nkansah revealed plans to host another hangout in Accra later this year, with the ambition of transforming it into a pan-African event.
“What we have also signaled is that there isn’t a bigger legal services market in Africa so we have signaled it across the continent. We have people reach out from other countries, South Africa, Kenya hoping to participate in the next event. We’re having it again this year in November in Accra but the goal is to have it as an Africa law tech hangout rather than centering it in Ghana."
By expanding the scope of the initiative, Nkansah aims to establish a robust community for fostering innovation and driving positive change within the African legal and technological space.
Watch the full interview:
