The Government of Ghana has approved a $250 million investment to establish a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute centre, marking a major step in the country’s ambition to become a leading hub for AI innovation in Africa.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, announced the landmark decision during the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (AI-RAM) programme held at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra.
According to the Minister, the approval was secured at the cabinet level as part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s technological capacity and support local innovation.
“At the last cabinet meeting, I got approval for the government of Ghana to put up an AI compute centre a $250 million investment,” he revealed.
Hon. George also disclosed that Ghana’s National AI Strategy has received cabinet approval and is scheduled to be officially launched by President John Dramani Mahama on April 24.
He described the strategy as a critical milestone that will drive AI adoption across all sectors of the economy, from agriculture and healthcare to finance and public service delivery.
“AI will help farmers boost productivity, assist medical professionals in diagnosis, and increase financial inclusion,” he noted.
The proposed AI compute centre is expected to provide the infrastructure needed for Ghanaian researchers, developers, and startups to build solutions locally, reducing dependence on foreign technologies.
The Minister emphasised that investing in such infrastructure is essential for unlocking Ghana’s full potential in the AI space.
“We must invest more strategically so Ghanaian researchers and startups can develop solutions locally rather than relying solely on external technologies,” he said.
Hon. George highlighted that Ghana is not starting from scratch, pointing to mobile penetration exceeding 110 percent and more than 38 million mobile subscriptions nationwide.
He added that the ICT sector continues to make significant contributions to Ghana’s GDP, supported by a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
However, he acknowledged critical gaps that must be addressed, including strengthening data governance, expanding digital skills, and improving research capacity.
The Minister stressed that ethical considerations must remain central to AI development, warning against the risk of technology deepening inequality.
“AI must advance inclusion instead of advancing inequality,” he cautioned.
He also commended UNESCO for its leadership in promoting ethical AI governance and acknowledged the European Union for its continued support for Ghana’s digital transformation.
Hon. George underscored that government alone cannot deliver Ghana’s AI future, calling for stronger collaboration among academia, industry, startups, and development partners.
He urged stakeholders to contribute bold, actionable ideas that will shape the country’s AI implementation plans.
“The decisions we make today will shape Ghana’s technological future for decades,” he said.
Positioning Ghana within the broader African context, the Minister linked the country’s AI ambitions to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra.
He said AI will play a key role in driving digital trade, innovation, and inclusive growth across the continent.
“Our vision is to scale solutions from serving 20,000 people locally to 20 million across Africa,” he stated.
