ICANN81 | AGM Istanbul

Shadrach Ankrah is an Information Technology (IT) Specialist and the Founder and Executive Director of Africa Rural Internet and STEM Initiative (AFRISTEMI) (https://afristemi.org), a nonprofit organization focused on bridging the digital divide in rural and underserved communities in Ghana. The organization provides digital skills training, including coding, graphic design, and web design, and is committed to connecting rural communities to the Internet to provide access to various opportunities. He advocates for Internet access and has actively participated in Internet governance discussions and initiatives since 2017. Shadrach has mentored and guided over 150 youths on Internet governance issues, helping them navigate the ecosystem and contribute to the development of the Internet. He is affiliated with various global Internet organizations, including the Internet Society (ISOC), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Shadrach has been a fellow at ICANN72 & ICANN77, AFRINIC-31, and the 2019 Hackathon@AIS (Africa Internet Summit). His vision is to see rural and underserved African communities have access to decentralized technologies and tools that provide them with Internet access, digital literacy, and job opportunities.