Ghana is positioning artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, skills development and regional technology cooperation as key drivers of future economic growth, with the government committing US$250 million over the next two years to develop AI computing infrastructure.
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr Samuel Nartey George, said the investment was being designed not only to meet Ghana’s domestic needs but also to position the country as a regional computing hub serving businesses, universities, researchers and technology start-ups across Africa.
Speaking at the ongoing UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sam George said Ghana could use its investment in high-performance computing to create new economic opportunities while reducing Africa’s dependence on technology infrastructure located outside the continent.
“We’re not building for Ghana. Ghana is just 35 million people. We’re building that infrastructure with a mindset of Africa as a continent,” he said.
The Minister said African countries should avoid duplicating expensive computing infrastructure individually, particularly given the continent’s limited power-generation capacity and the high cost of establishing and operating advanced data and computing facilities.
He proposed regional infrastructure hubs through which countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and The Gambia could access computing resources hosted in Ghana.
Such an arrangement, he said, could lower the cost of accessing high-performance computing for African businesses, researchers and technology start-ups while helping to retain more digital economic value on the continent.
Mr George said affordable access to computing capacity was increasingly important as businesses and governments adopted AI for areas such as financial services, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and public administration.
He said Ghana’s strategy therefore had to focus not only on deploying AI but also on building the infrastructure, data and skills needed to support a competitive domestic technology industry.
The Minister also called for greater African participation in setting global AI standards, arguing that the continent’s data, culture and economic interests must be adequately reflected in AI systems.
He said Ghana’s experience with the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology had helped identify the country’s strengths and weaknesses as it implements its 10-year National AI Strategy.
According to him, the assessment provided a basis for developing an implementation framework that could guide investment towards areas where Ghana had existing capabilities while addressing gaps in infrastructure, skills and governance.
Mr George said inadequate representation of African datasets could affect the performance of AI systems and potentially limit the economic benefits that African countries derive from the technology.
He argued that Africa should therefore move beyond being a consumer of AI products developed elsewhere and become an active participant in the development of the technology, including its datasets, computing infrastructure, applications and standards.
He said stronger African participation could also improve the continent’s negotiating position with major global technology companies.
Mr George said a coordinated African approach could give the continent greater leverage in negotiations with major technology companies and investors.
He cited companies such as NVIDIA and Huawei, saying individual African countries could have limited bargaining power when negotiating major technology infrastructure investments, but a collective position through the African Union could create a stronger market opportunity.
“Ghana alone cannot bring NVIDIA or Huawei to the table to meet our position. But when we take a collective position as Africa, then we can have a voice at the table through the African Union,” he said.
The Minister said Ghana’s expected leadership roles within the African Union could provide an opportunity to advance a common continental position on AI, digital infrastructure and technology investment.
Ghana is expected to assume the chairmanship of the African Union from February next year, while Mr George is expected to chair the AU Specialised Technical Committee on ICT and Communications.
He said the platforms could be used to develop common African priorities and strengthen the continent’s ability to attract technology investment and negotiate with global technology companies.
Mr George said infrastructure investment was being complemented by efforts to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting Ghana’s emerging digital economy.
He cited the government’s One Million Coders programme, which seeks to train one million Ghanaians in future-oriented digital skills, including artificial intelligence, data security and cybersecurity.
The programme is also being extended into secondary schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, while partnerships with universities are being used to expand AI-related training.
He said students in 20 major universities were required to complete designated AI courses as prerequisites for graduation.
The Minister said the initiative was intended to create a larger pool of skilled workers who could support businesses, technology start-ups and public institutions as AI adoption expanded.
He also disclosed that, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, government had trained all Chief Directors in AI skills, with the training being extended to directors and assistant directors across the civil service.
He said building public-sector capacity was critical because officials responsible for overseeing AI deployment needed sufficient technical knowledge to regulate the technology and manage its economic and institutional impact.
Mr George said the combination of computing infrastructure, skilled human capital and appropriate regulatory frameworks could help Ghana develop a stronger domestic AI ecosystem.
He said the objective should be to create an environment in which African businesses and technology entrepreneurs could access computing resources at competitive costs while developing AI solutions tailored to local and regional markets.
The Minister stressed that Africa should not approach AI solely as an ethical or technological issue but as an economic development opportunity requiring coordinated investment in infrastructure, human capital, data and innovation.
He said Ghana remained committed to working with UNESCO, the African Union and other international partners to ensure that AI development supported inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
