The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has strengthened its position as a leader in governance and innovation with the launch of a new Centre for West African Studies for Digital Public Governance, aimed at advancing digital transformation across the sub-region.
The centre, established through a partnership between GIMPA and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), was unveiled during activities marking GIMPA’s 65th anniversary in Accra. The initiative is expected to serve as a major research and policy platform to support digital governance, innovation, and institutional development across West Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Chief of Staff Mr Julius Debrah called on the Centre to produce impactful research that would influence policymaking, strengthen public institutions, and help governments harness emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital finance, and e-governance.
He stressed that West Africa must actively participate in the global digital revolution rather than remain a passive consumer of technological advancements. According to him, the Centre has the potential to position Ghana and the wider region as contributors to global knowledge and innovation.
As part of the collaboration, GIMPA and UESTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Digital Public Governance Hub, which is expected to become the largest of its kind in West Africa.
GIMPA Rector, Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, said the hub would focus on gathering and analysing governance data across Africa to support evidence-based decision-making and improve development outcomes. He noted that inadequate data remains a major challenge for many governments in the region.
The project is expected to commence within the coming months, with plans to make the hub fully operational within a year.
Mr Debrah also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to education and knowledge-driven development, citing the allocation of GH¢33.3 billion to the education sector in the 2026 national budget as evidence of that commitment.
The launch marks a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to become a regional centre for digital governance research, innovation, and policy development.
