Ghana has begun rolling out major investments and policy interventions to address gaps in its digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) capacity and cybersecurity systems, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George has disclosed.
The initiatives, he said, were informed by findings from the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), which Ghana used to identify weaknesses in its digital ecosystem and guide national priorities in digital transformation.
Speaking at the ongoing UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence during a ministers’ closed-door forum, Mr George said the assessment had provided Ghana with a framework to benchmark its progress and determine areas requiring urgent intervention.
He said the exercise had highlighted gaps in AI skills, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and the broader contribution of digital technologies to the economy.
$450M DIGITAL AND AI INVESTMENT
Mr George disclosed that the government was implementing a US$200 million digitalisation project to strengthen critical components of the country’s digital infrastructure.
The project includes the upgrading of the National Data Centre, operationalisation of a national data exchange hub, expansion of last-mile connectivity and measures to strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
In addition, Cabinet has approved US$250 million for the establishment of a National AI and Computing Centre.
According to the Minister, the facility will provide researchers, start-ups, universities and other technology innovators with affordable and sovereign access to high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.
He stressed that the computing centre was not merely a policy proposal but a funded programme already being implemented by the government.
GHANA LACKS COMPREHENSIVE AI LAW
Despite Ghana’s progress in cybersecurity, Mr George acknowledged that significant policy and regulatory gaps remain.
He noted that the country currently does not have comprehensive AI-specific legislation covering all aspects of artificial intelligence governance.
The development of appropriate regulatory and technical frameworks, he said, was therefore an important priority as Ghana expands the adoption and deployment of AI.
The Minister said the UNESCO assessment was useful because it went beyond identifying challenges and helped government determine practical measures to address them.
CALL FOR DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY
Mr George also raised concerns about the growing dependence of developing countries on foreign cloud-computing providers, warning that governments needed to carefully structure partnerships with international technology companies.
He said such arrangements should protect national sovereignty, strategic data and national interests.
He argued that developing countries needed more than policy guidance from international institutions such as UNESCO, stressing the importance of funding, infrastructure and technical expertise to enable them to build their own digital and AI capabilities.
The Minister called for stronger cooperation among countries at similar stages of digital development, noting that no single country could independently build the entire AI and advanced computing ecosystem.
He said Ghana was ready to deepen its partnership with UNESCO and other stakeholders, particularly in establishing and operationalising its national computing infrastructure and strengthening the regulatory and technical capacity needed to govern AI responsibly.
He expressed the hope that AI and digital technologies would ultimately be deployed in ways that support Ghana’s broader national development objectives.
