Ghana is taking steps to reduce its dependence on foreign technology infrastructure as the government rolls out major investments in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, said the government is implementing a US$200 million digitalisation project while Cabinet has approved another US$250 million for the establishment of a National AI and Computing Centre.
Speaking at the ongoing UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence during a closed-door ministers’ forum, Mr George said the investments formed part of measures to address gaps identified in Ghana’s digital ecosystem.
He explained that Ghana used the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) to identify weaknesses in areas such as AI skills, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and the contribution of digital technology to the economy.
According to him, the government is now translating the findings of the assessment into concrete interventions rather than treating it as a standalone evaluation exercise.
Under the US$200 million digitalisation programme, the government is upgrading the National Data Centre, establishing a national data exchange hub, expanding last-mile connectivity and strengthening the country’s cybersecurity resilience.
Mr George said the planned National AI and Computing Centre would provide researchers, universities, start-ups and technology innovators with affordable and sovereign access to high-performance computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
He stressed that the initiative had moved beyond the policy stage, describing it as a funded programme that is already being implemented.
The Minister also raised concerns about the growing reliance of developing countries on foreign cloud-computing platforms, warning that excessive dependence could create risks for national sovereignty and the protection of strategic data.
He therefore urged governments to carefully structure partnerships with international technology companies to ensure that critical national data and interests remain protected.
Although Ghana continues to perform strongly in international cybersecurity assessments, Mr George acknowledged that the country still has important gaps to address, particularly in AI governance.
He noted that Ghana currently does not have comprehensive legislation specifically covering all aspects of artificial intelligence, making the development of appropriate regulatory and technical frameworks a priority.
Mr George also called for stronger international cooperation to help developing countries build their own AI capabilities, arguing that countries at similar stages of digital development could benefit from sharing infrastructure, expertise and policy solutions.
He said UNESCO and its partners should move beyond providing guidance to supporting developing countries with funding, infrastructure and technical expertise.
Ghana, he added, is ready to deepen its partnership with UNESCO and other stakeholders to build the technical and regulatory capacity needed to develop and deploy artificial intelligence responsibly for national development.
