Ghana ready to become Africa’s AI hub – Sam George

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has declared that Ghana is positioning itself to become Africa’s leading hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Minister made this known at the official launch of Ghana’s National AI Strategy on Friday, April 24, an initiative aimed at providing a comprehensive framework to guide the development, deployment, and regulation of AI systems across key sectors of the economy.

The strategy is expected to outline policies that will drive innovation while ensuring ethical standards, data protection, and inclusive access to technology.

Addressing stakeholders at the event, Sam George emphasised the need for strong collaboration between government institutions, private sector players, academia, and the general public to fully realise Ghana’s AI ambitions.

The minister highlighted that artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day tool transforming industries such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and governance.

“I trust that the judiciary will guide our ethical and legal application of artificial intelligence. Ghana stands capable and ready of leading and becoming Africa’s AI hub by strengthening collaboration between government, industry, academia and citizens. We will build a Ghana that owns its future in the age of intelligence.”

Artificial Intelligence involves the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, including learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and language understanding.

Across the globe, AI is being deployed to improve efficiency, enhance productivity, and unlock new economic opportunities.

The National AI Strategy is expected to prioritise capacity building by promoting STEM education, supporting research institutions, and encouraging innovation hubs to develop local solutions tailored to Ghana’s unique needs.