Ghana is committing US$450 million to expand its digital infrastructure and build domestic artificial intelligence capabilities, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Minister Samuel Nartey George has announced.
The funding comprises US$200 million for a wider digitalisation programme and a further US$250 million approved by Cabinet for a proposed National AI and Computing Centre. The investments are being positioned as part of the government’s response to gaps identified through Ghana’s participation in UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) for artificial intelligence.
Speaking during a ministers’ closed-door forum at the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, George said the assessment had helped identify areas where Ghana needs to strengthen its digital ecosystem.
Among the priorities highlighted were AI skills, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and the contribution of technology to economic development. George also pointed to the need for Ghana to develop comprehensive rules governing artificial intelligence, saying the country does not yet have legislation covering all aspects of AI governance.
The US$200 million digital infrastructure programme is already under implementation. It includes improvements to the National Data Centre, the development of a national data exchange hub, wider last-mile connectivity and measures to strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
George stressed that the initiatives represent funded programmes rather than proposals still awaiting approval. A further US$250 million has been approved for the National AI and Computing Centre. The facility is expected to give universities, researchers, start-ups and technology developers access to high-performance computing and AI infrastructure at more affordable rates.
The minister said the investment would help Ghana develop greater domestic capacity to build and deploy AI systems while reducing dependence on computing resources located outside the country.
George also raised concerns about the reliance of developing countries on overseas cloud providers, arguing that governments need to ensure technology partnerships protect national data and strategic interests.
He called for stronger international cooperation to help countries build AI infrastructure and technical expertise. According to George, nations at similar stages of digital development can benefit from sharing resources and experience because individual countries cannot easily develop every component of the advanced computing ecosystem independently.
He also urged UNESCO and international partners to complement policy guidance with funding, infrastructure and technical support.
For Ghana, the planned investment represents a significant expansion of national digital capacity, combining upgrades to core infrastructure with new computing resources intended to support the country’s emerging AI ecosystem.