Re:publica Accra
Re:publica Accra was not your typical tech conferenceโit was a vibrant meeting point for digital culture, freedom of expression, and critical reflection on how technology is reshaping our world.
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Held in the capital, the event brought together an extraordinary mix of creatives, tech entrepreneurs, social change advocates, and policy makers to explore innovation, resilience, and progressive thinking within West Africaโs digital landscape.
- By: Will Senyo
- Feb, 2018
In theory, digitalisation promises to break down barriers and connect communities. In reality, most changemakers end up swimming in their own corner of the vast social media ocean, rarely getting the chance to share ideas beyond their immediate networks.
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Thatโs why Re:publica resonated with us from the startโitโs exactly the kind of platform Ghana and Africa need at this critical moment: a festival where pioneers, artists, activists, and innovators can exchange perspectives, spark collaboration, and imagine a smarter, more inclusive digital future.
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Re:publica Accra didnโt just showcase technologyโit strengthened Afro-German dialogue around digital issues and explored how technology can drive collaborative development. It bridged communities, amplified young innovatorsโ voices, and challenged stereotypes about Africaโs role in the digital age.
Health Lounge: Technology Meets Well-being:ย
As hosts of the Health Lounge, Impact Hub Accra curated a space dedicated to exploring how digital technologies intersect with health and well-being. It was both a sanctuary and a learning hubโoffering participants yoga classes, healthy snacks from local entrepreneurs, and a quiet space to recharge, alongside exhibits and conversations about health AI, wellness tech products, and the ethics of medical data in the digital age.
From hands-on meetups to thought-provoking discussions, the Health Lounge tackled critical questions: How does digitisation change the way we care for our bodies? What are the opportunitiesโand risksโof quantified health? How can self-care evolve alongside technological innovation?
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The Makerspace: Innovation You Can Touchย
A highlight for many was the Makerspace, brought to life by Global Innovation Gathering, Kumasi Hive, Impact Hub Accra, and Woelab. Here, participants rolled up their sleeves to solder, 3D print, upcycle, and prototype alongside innovators from across Ghana.
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Key features included:
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- Two Cities, One Prototype โ A daring 24-hour challenge where teams in Accra and Kumasi co-created a functioning machine from e-waste, showcasing the possibilities of distributed manufacturing.
- E-Waste Lounge & Bar โ Furniture, dรฉcor, and even jewelry crafted from discarded electronics, with live demonstrations from Agbogbloshieโs blacksmiths and artisans.
- #ASKotec: Makerspace in a Box โ A portable resource kit designed for trainers in low-infrastructure regions, refugee camps, and rural areas.
- Internet of Plants Workshop โ A DIY IoT gardening project where participants learned to monitor plant health remotely via custom-built sensors and dashboards.
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The Makerspace was more than an exhibitionโit was an invitation to see innovation as hands-on, collaborative, and rooted in sustainability.
Re:publica Accra was a seminal moment in Ghanaโs recent history, bringing together three vital segments of progressive society: creatives/artists, tech entrepreneurs and people working for social change.
The Vanguard of a Ghanaian Narrative
Re:publica Accra addressed the many ways digitisation is reshaping our societiesโfrom politics, media, and social services to arts, culture, business, and science. Most importantly, it left participants with new connections, fresh ideas, and a shared belief that the future of digital culture in Africa will be co-createdโby diverse voices, across disciplines, and in spaces just like this.
