The Government has unveiled an ambitious 10-year implementation roadmap for Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, reaffirming its commitment to deploying AI as a catalyst for economic transformation, job creation and sustainable national development.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, at the opening of the Ghana AI Summit and Awards 2026 in Accra yesterday, a representative of the Minister said the government was determined to ensure that the country’s AI strategy would not become “another document sitting on a shelf.”
He announced that government, in collaboration with United Nations partners, is developing a comprehensive National AI Implementation Plan with clearly defined annual milestones over the next decade to track progress and ensure accountability.
“We did not launch the National AI Strategy for it to remain another policy document. We are putting in place a 10-year implementation plan with measurable milestones because we want Ghanaians to see real results,” he said.
The representative also reaffirmed government’s commitment to establishing a US$250 million AI Compute Centre, first announced by President John Dramani Mahama during the launch of the National AI Strategy, describing it as a major investment that would strengthen Ghana’s AI ecosystem and research capabilities.
He explained that the initiative forms part of government’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at creating an innovation-driven economy where technology serves as a tool for inclusive growth and shared prosperity.
According to him, government is simultaneously strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure through improved connectivity, modern digital public services and institutional reforms to create the right environment for responsible AI adoption.
He further disclosed that government was preparing a Data Harmonisation Act to establish stronger data governance and classification standards across public institutions, while a proposed Data Exchange Act will improve interoperability and facilitate secure data sharing among government agencies.
He added that the National Data Centre is also being modernised to support the growing demand for AI-powered services. Recognising that human capital remains the backbone of every digital economy, the Minister said government continues to invest heavily in digital skills development through programmes that equip young Ghanaians with expertise in artificial intelligence, software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and digital entrepreneurship.
“Our objective is straightforward—to build an ecosystem where innovation flourishes, businesses grow, research translates into commercial solutions and Ghanaian talent competes confidently on the continental and global stage,” he stated.
He encouraged universities, research institutions and innovation hubs to deepen collaboration with industry by expanding research in AI, machine learning, robotics and data science while producing graduates equipped for the evolving digital economy.
The Minister stressed that government would continue working with industry, academia, civil society and international partners to ensure AI development in Ghana remains transparent, accountable, secure and beneficial to citizens.
Supporting government’s direction, Head of UNESCO Office in Accra, Edmond Moukala, urged Ghana to move beyond policy declarations and focus on implementation, warning that AI strategies without adequate funding and execution remain mere “shell documents.”
He praised Ghana for being among Africa’s early adopters of a national AI strategy, but cautioned that the country could not afford complacency as global competition in artificial intelligence continues to accelerate.
Drawing lessons from China, Moukala noted that between 2021 and 2025, the country restructured thousands of university programmes to prepare graduates for the AI economy, while recently establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to strengthen global AI governance.
“If we are still debating whether Africa needs artificial intelligence, then we are already behind. The world is moving faster than many imagine, and Africa must position itself to benefit from this transformation,” he observed.
He called for stronger investment in indigenous AI solutions capable of addressing Ghana’s unique socioeconomic challenges and stressed the importance of ensuring that women, rural communities and other vulnerable groups are not excluded from the digital revolution.
Moukala further highlighted UNESCO’s work in supporting Ghana’s AI Readiness Assessment and promoting ethical AI development anchored on transparency, human rights, accountability and inclusion.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence for Economic Growth and Job Creation: Innovation, Inclusion and Future Jobs,” brought together government officials, policymakers, academia, technology firms, development partners and innovators to explore how AI can accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation while creating sustainable employment opportunities.
By Jennifer Ambolley & Liz Mitchell
