GHANAIAN social innovator and policy advocate Bright Simons has been appointed to the newly formed Africa Expert Panel under South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency. His inclusion underscores Africa’s intent to amplify its voice on global economic challenges, particularly as the continent confronts a mounting debt crisis.
The announcement was made in a statement by South Africa’s National Treasury on March 12, 2025.
South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency in December 2024, marking the first time the leadership of this influential global forum has been held on African soil. The G20, comprising 19 major economies, the African Union, and the European Union, is responsible for addressing some of the world’s most pressing economic issues. South Africa’s presidency presents a unique opportunity to spotlight African priorities in global economic policymaking.
Ghana’s Bright Simons among global experts
Bright Simons, known for his work as the founder and president of mPedigree and vice-president for research at IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, is among 23 distinguished experts appointed to the Africa Expert Panel. The panel, chaired by former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel, brings together influential thinkers from across the continent and beyond.
Other panel members include Carlos Lopes of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo from MIT, and former AfDB president Donald Kaberuka, now Chair of SouthBridge Group. Together, the panel is tasked with offering strategic advice on economic and development policy, particularly as it pertains to Africa’s position within the G20.
Confronting Africa’s debt crisis
According to the South African National Treasury, a key focus for the Africa Expert Panel is addressing Africa’s deepening debt challenges. In 2025, African nations are expected to pay close to $89bn in external debt servicing. Alarmingly, 20 low-income countries are already at significant risk of debt distress. More than half of the continent’s 1.3 billion citizens live in countries where governments are forced to spend more on interest payments than on essential public services like health, education, and infrastructure.
‘The high level of debt is unsustainable and undermines efforts toward sustainable development and poverty alleviation,’ the Treasury statement noted. The panel is expected to develop comprehensive policy recommendations that will form part of the G20 Finance Track discussions.
Advancing Africa’s developmental agenda
The Africa Expert Panel has been established to foster dialogue and collaboration between African governments, think tanks, and organised business. Its aim is to ensure Africa presents a unified stance within the G20 framework, advocating for reforms that support inclusive global economic governance.
Specifically, the panel will:
- Utilise South Africa’s G20 presidency to advance Africa’s collective developmental agenda
- Produce evidence-based policy recommendations
- Build a knowledge base of best practices and implementation lessons
- Enhance Africa’s participation and influence in the G20 decision-making process
The South African National Treasury also confirmed that the panel will deliver a High-Level Report with its key findings and strategic recommendations ahead of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Bright Simons’ role in shaping Africa’s future
Bright Simons brings to the panel his expertise in social innovation, technology, and governance. Through mPedigree, he has pioneered mobile technology solutions for product authentication, significantly impacting public health and consumer protection across Africa and Asia. His role on the Africa Expert Panel is expected to add valuable insight into how technology and innovation can help resolve some of Africa’s most pressing economic challenges.
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana welcomed the panel’s formation, stating: ‘On behalf of the people of South Africa, I want to thank each panel member for accepting the invitation to serve. Their insights and expertise will assist in shaping Africa’s economic, development and financial engagements within such an international and systemic forum as the G20.’
Also commenting on the panel, Simons said: ‘Many countries in Africa find themselves on the brink of multiple geopolitical and geo-cultural faultlines. The retreat of America from multilateralism. The debt crisis. The loss of credibility in the global response to climate change. The volatile Gen Z – social media mix. No African country can operate a viable strategy in isolation. For all these reasons and more, this may well be the most momentous G20 Presidency for Africa in a generation.’
South Africa’s G20 Presidency runs until November 2025. The Africa Expert Panel’s work is set to be a cornerstone in advancing Africa’s voice in global economic governance.
