Ghana will step up artificial intelligence deployment across key ministries and tighten cybersecurity measures after a series of attacks on government systems, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George has said.
Addressing a stakeholder session on AI readiness at the Ministry of Finance, Nartey George said recent breaches had targeted multiple state portals, including attempts to alter human resources databases. He linked many incidents to lax cyber practices, such as logging into official email accounts on unsecured public devices.
The minister said his office will work with the Cyber Security Authority to enforce stricter security protocols, expand user training, and ensure compliance with national cybersecurity standards.
A pilot AI rollout will begin with five ministries: Finance, Interior, Lands and Natural Resources, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations. Deployment will be guided by assessments of each ministry’s digital maturity, with goals to digitize workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and standardize data through the National Data Centre.
Nartey George also highlighted the government’s cost-saving efforts, citing tens of millions of dollars saved through centralized Microsoft licensing deals. Similar consolidation of enterprise software contracts is planned to cut waste.
Upgrades to the National Data Centre are planned to meet rising hosting demands, with financing talks ongoing with the Finance Ministry. The AI strategy review identified use cases for the pilot ministries, with implementation targeted for 2026. Nartey George urged the Finance Ministry to create a dedicated AI budget line in the 2026 fiscal year.
