Government has announced a $250 million investment to establish a world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computing Centre as part of a broader push to position Ghana as a leading digital economy in Africa.
An additional $20 million has been earmarked to support the short- and medium-term implementation of the country’s newly launched National AI Strategy.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama said the proposed AI Centre would serve as a national hub for research, innovation, and advanced computing, enabling Ghanaian developers and businesses to build solutions tailored to local and continental needs.
He noted that the investment would also support the development of local data infrastructure and expand access to AI tools for citizens and enterprises.
The National AI Strategy, which spans 2025 to 2035, is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations in collaboration with industry and academic partners.
It focuses on key pillars including ethical AI development, digital skills training, workforce readiness, research and innovation, ecosystem growth, and the modernisation of public service delivery.
President Mahama said the long-term ambition was to build an inclusive AI ecosystem that drives productivity, supports entrepreneurship, and enhances governance.
He explained that the strategy would integrate AI into education, strengthen research capacity in universities, and ensure that informal sector players and persons with disabilities are not left behind in the digital transition.
“We are building a future where AI strengthens jobs, improves public services, and expands opportunities, not one where it displaces people,” he stated.
He stressed that Ghana’s approach would prioritise human-centred and inclusive AI adoption, ensuring that technological advancement enhances livelihoods while safeguarding dignity.
The President further underscored the importance of developing AI systems rooted in local contexts, calling for increased investment in domestic data ecosystems and the integration of indigenous languages into digital platforms.
“Ghana must not rely solely on imported systems that do not reflect our realities. We must build and localise AI solutions that serve our people and industries,” he said.
As part of the implementation framework, government plans to upgrade national data infrastructure and establish a Responsible Artificial Intelligence Office to oversee governance, compliance, and ethical standards.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the deployment of AI technologies would be guided by global best practices to ensure accountability and trust.
He disclosed that work was ongoing on an Emerging Technologies Bill to provide a legal and regulatory framework for AI and related innovations in Ghana.
The government is also calling for stronger collaboration among academia, private sector players, and civil society to drive the successful implementation of the strategy and unlock new economic opportunities within the digital sector.
