The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Mohammed Adam Sukparu (MP), has officially opened the 2026 National ICT Week Celebration on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, MP, with a call for stronger collaboration among Government, industry, academia and technology innovators to accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation.
The celebration, organised by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), is being held under the theme “Innovation at Scale: Creating Opportunities Across Ghana’s Digital Ecosystem” at the CEDI Conference Centre, University of Ghana.
Delivering the Minister’s address at the opening ceremony on Monday, August 17, 2026, the Deputy Minister said the theme reflected Government’s commitment to building the policies, infrastructure, skills, institutions and partnerships required to maximise the opportunities presented by the digital economy.
Hon. Sukparu highlighted the launch of Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in April 2026 as a major milestone, saying it provides a framework for the responsible and inclusive adoption of AI, with emphasis on data governance, infrastructure, talent development, ethical use and practical applications across the economy.
He said Government had also initiated an AI capacity-building programme for public-sector officials in partnership with UNESCO, UNDP and the Government of Japan to support the implementation of the Strategy.
On digital skills, the Deputy Minister said the One Million Coders Programme remained a flagship investment in Ghana’s human capital, aimed at equipping one million Ghanaians with practical coding and digital skills for employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the digital economy.
He disclosed that more than 12,000 course completions had already been recorded within the early weeks of Phase Two.
The Deputy Minister further announced Government’s target of achieving 70 per cent population coverage of 5G by the end of 6th March 2027, alongside reforms to spectrum policy and the digital regulatory framework to promote investment, innovation and wider public value.
He also identified digital government as a key priority, highlighting the ongoing revamp of Ghana.gov into a more integrated gateway for accessing public services.
According to him, NITA would play a critical role in supporting Government’s digital government agenda through interoperability, shared digital infrastructure, technical standards, enterprise architecture and secure data exchange.
“Government systems must be able to communicate securely and efficiently. Common standards must guide the development of digital systems and help reduce duplication,” he said.
Hon. Sukparu also stressed the importance of cybersecurity, data protection and responsible innovation, particularly as Ghana expands its use of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven systems.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration and Finance, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who delivered the keynote address, said the digital economy was no longer a future possibility but a present driver of economic growth.
She said the global digital economy was projected to reach about US$28 trillion, representing approximately 22 per cent of global GDP, while Ghana’s ICT sector was already making a significant contribution to the national economy.
She outlined Government’s approach to scaling digital innovation through the expansion of digital infrastructure, digitisation of public services, investment in digital skills, support for entrepreneurship and innovation, and strengthened cybersecurity and data protection.
The Deputy Chief of Samuel cited the National AI Strategy, the One Million Coders Programme and the planned training of 50,000 persons with disabilities as examples of initiatives aimed at expanding digital opportunities and inclusion.
She also highlighted digitalisation initiatives at the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, saying such interventions were improving public-sector efficiency, strengthening revenue mobilisation and closing loopholes.
She, however, called for greater attention to the digital divide, stressing the need to ensure that the benefits of technology reached underserved communities and vulnerable groups.
The 2026 National ICT Week is expected to bring together stakeholders from Government, industry, academia, civil society and the technology community to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore opportunities for scaling innovation and accelerating Ghana’s digital transformation.
