Abstract

Abstract The rise of smart governance characterized by data-driven decision-making, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and contradictions for post-colonial African states. While smart technologies promise administrative efficiency and civic engagement, their integration occurs within historically unequal power structures, fragile institutions, and contested notions of sovereignty. This study examines how post-colonial legacies influence the adoption, design, and ethical trajectory of smart governance initiatives in four African countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Using a qualitative, policy-oriented approach, the paper analyzes policy documents, institutional frameworks, and expert commentaries to understand how smart governance mediates between modernization imperatives and decolonial aspirations. Findings reveal that despite notable progress in e-governance, data infrastructure, and AI-assisted service delivery, the persistence of elite capture, limited civic literacy, and externally driven digital policies restrict genuine democratic transformation. The study concludes that smart governance in Africa requires not only technological innovation but epistemic justice the recognition of indigenous knowledge, equitable policy ownership, and digital sovereignty. Keywords: Smart governance, post-colonial Africa, digital transformation, AI policy, decolonial governance, public accountability.