The Blockchain Network (BN), a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the development and adoption of blockchain technology, will host its fourth virtual conference in Ghana, on September 15-16, 2021.
Themed ‘mainstreaming blockchain and crypto currencies’ the conference looks to deepen the multi-stakeholder approach to Governance of Blockchain and engage the community to balance innovation and regulation. Aware of the potential benefits of Blockchain and concerns about barriers to adoption, Blockchain Network, initiated Ghana Blockchain annual conferences in 2017.
This created a forum for all interested parties to freely dialogue and address challenges with an interest to showcase solutions for Ghana. The participants have come from financial, telecommunications, education, business, technical, regulation, law enforcement and policy interests. This conference has attracted participation from regional and global leaders to shape national policies.
Over the years, the BN has brought together key stakeholders to advance the course of blockchain technology. The first, Ghana Blockchain conference was held on 16 November 2017 with theme ‘blockchain technology and development’. There were main presentations on Africa and blockchain technology, cryptography and blockchain.
There were also lightning presentations on blockchain systems, Bitcoin industry and crypto currencies, document verifier, human rights, development and blockchain, Bsafe.network blockchain research update, ethereum name service and blockchain academy update. There was a Governance panel on crypto currency and financial systems and included Bank of Ghana, cybersecurity adviser, blockchain expert and legal professional.
The second event was held on 25 October 2018 with the theme ‘blockchain for development’. It had a moderated session on Governance with Panelists from Bank of Ghana, Ghipss, Land Lay By, National Security Adviser and UCC.
There were lightning presentations on blockchain and crypto currencies, Stamp Africa, Bit-pesa, the future of digital health, converging blockchain and AI, crypto currency exchange, blockchain hackathon, all about blockchain, blockchain beyond crypto currencies: education use case, academic certificate on blockchain, blockchain academy update and blockchain and education.
The next event was held on 28 November 2019 with the theme ‘blockchain for digital transformation’. There was a session on blockchain and transformation with panelists from Bank of Ghana, TRS Tech, CID, Ghana Police, Margins, and the National Security Adviser.
There were lightning presentations on Blockchain and issues in Stool lands acquisition, RMIT university, Ghana Police, Stamp Africa, Emerging Identifiers, Understanding Crypto Currencies as spontaneous order, Blockchain Exchange, Converging Blockchain and AI, development of crypto vending machine, learning as a currency, blockchain technology a major disrupter and blockchain academy update.
Over the years, the attention of our community evolved from blockchain technology and development, to blockchain for development, to blockchain and digital transformation.
Blockchain network organizes conferences, workshops, or forums to advance objectives. BN organizes Ghana Blockchain Conference and co-organizes Togo Blockchain Conference. It also provides grants and scholarships for developing African expertise in blockchain, networks and policies.
