The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), has called for urgent and deliberate policy action to position Ghana and the African continent competitively within the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
The Minister made these remark at the Ishmael Yamson & Associates Business Roundtable, held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The event, themed “Unlocking the Next Quarter Century: Harnessing Africa’s Digital Infrastructure, Trade & Integration, Energy & Industry, Leadership & Governance and Societal Development for Global Relevance,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and development partners to explore Africa’s long-term growth prospects.
Participating in a session on “Driving Africa’s Next Wave: Empowering Africa’s Youth to Lead the Future of Work Through AI and Innovation,” the Minister emphasised that Africa’s opportunity to shape its place in the AI-driven global economy is narrowing and requires coordinated, forward-looking interventions.
He outlined four key priority areas critical to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
First, he stressed the need to treat digital connectivity as a sovereign imperative rather than a commercial luxury.
Hon. George cautioned that limited access, particularly in rural and underserved communities, risks widening the digital divide and excluding many citizens from the benefits of AI and emerging technologies.
Second, the Minister underscored the importance of data sovereignty, describing data as a critical national asset. He highlighted the need for Ghana to retain control over its data resources to support innovation in sectors such as healthcare, financial technology, and national security.
He further noted ongoing efforts to develop robust, locally relevant datasets to power AI systems that reflect African realities.
The Minister also referenced collaboration between government and key academic institutions, including the University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, aimed at developing local language AI models capable of capturing the nuances of Ghanaian dialects.
Third, the Minister called for the development of digital skills at scale, pointing to the government’s One Million Coders Programme as a strategic initiative to build a strong talent pipeline.
He indicated that scaling human capital is essential for Ghana to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy, including the business process outsourcing sector.
Finally, he highlighted the need for a modern, responsive regulatory framework to support innovation. He explained that the Ministry is undertaking a comprehensive review of existing ICT legislation, much of which is outdated, alongside the development of new laws addressing emerging technologies, data harmonisation, and information integrity.
The Minister noted that the legislative reform process has been highly consultative, incorporating extensive stakeholder input through multiple review stages prior to submission to Cabinet and Parliament.
Addressing concerns regarding the proposed National Information Technology Agency (NITA) Bill, he clarified that the objective is to enhance transparency, accountability, and standardisation in government IT systems and procurement processes, particularly in relation to cybersecurity and critical information infrastructure.
Hon. George further outlined plans to establish a centralised national data exchange hub to improve interoperability across public institutions and streamline access to data.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring responsible regulation, stressing that a balanced approach is necessary to build a resilient and inclusive digital ecosystem.
