Ghana’s efforts to expand its digital infrastructure are being constrained by overlapping regulatory responsibilities and the underutilisation of national data centres, according to the Ghana Digital Economy Outlook 2026, which calls for clearer oversight to improve investment and the use of existing facilities.
The report identifies unresolved responsibilities between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) as a challenge for the country’s data centre sector, recommending that the government establish a clear regulatory mandate to guide the industry.
It also identifies the underutilisation of national data centres as a structural weakness in Ghana’s digital ecosystem, arguing that better use of existing infrastructure is necessary to support the country’s expanding digital economy.
The findings raise questions about how effectively Ghana is coordinating the institutions and infrastructure needed to support growing demand for data storage, cloud computing and other digital services.
The report, commissioned by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and Germany’s development agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), lists the resolution of data centre oversight ambiguity as one of six priority actions for strengthening Ghana’s digital economy.
It recommends that the ministry, NCA, NITA and Parliament work together to clarify the responsibilities of the institutions involved in data centre regulation.
The proposed intervention is expected to establish a clear mandate, reduce regulatory uncertainty and increase the utilisation of national data centre facilities.
The report also links the issue to broader weaknesses in digital infrastructure governance, identifying institutional fragmentation and poor coordination as factors affecting the development of the country’s digital ecosystem.
Beyond regulatory oversight, the report recommends that Ghana use public-private partnerships to host critical digital services in national data centres, with the aim of improving reliability and supporting the sustainability of government digital infrastructure.
It also proposes converting national data centres into cloud service hubs for small and medium-sized enterprises, although it says this would require clear governance arrangements.
The recommendations come as Ghana seeks to deepen the use of digital technology across public administration, financial services, healthcare, agriculture and other productive sectors.
The report argues that infrastructure investment must be accompanied by stronger institutional coordination and policies that encourage the effective use of existing facilities.
It further recommends a national data classification and harmonisation framework to improve secure information sharing between government institutions and reduce duplication across public-sector systems.
The framework, alongside clearer data centre oversight, is expected to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and improve the environment for wider adoption of cloud-based services.
