Ghana is calling for urgent and deliberate policy action to position the nation and the African continent competitively within the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
ICT minister Samuel Nartey George spoke at the Ishmael Yamson and Associates Business Roundtable last week at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The event focused on unlocking Africa’s digital infrastructure, trade, energy and leadership for global relevance.
It brought together policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to explore long-term growth prospects.
According to George, Africa’s opportunity to shape its place in the AI economy is narrowing, requiring coordinated, forward-looking interventions. He outlined key priority areas critical to Ghana’s digital agenda.
The minister stressed the need to treat digital connectivity as a sovereign imperative rather than a commercial luxury. He also emphasised the importance of data sovereignty, describing data as a critical national asset.
George asserted that retaining control over data resources is essential 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 cited collaborations 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.
Moreover, the ICT ministry called for the development of digital skills at scale, highlighting the government’s One Million Coders Programme as a strategic initiative to build a strong talent pipeline.
Furthermore, George highlighted the need for a modern regulatory framework. The ministry is currently reviewing outdated ICT legislation and creating new laws to address emerging technologies, data harmonisation and information integrity.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,” explained the ministry
George also outlined plans to establish a centralised national data exchange hub. This platform will improve interoperability across public institutions and streamline data access.
The minister reaffirmed the state’s commitment to fostering innovation through responsible regulation, noting that a balanced approach remains necessary to build a resilient and inclusive digital ecosystem.
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