Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, says the government has started implementing measures to bridge gaps identified in Ghana’s digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) capacity and cybersecurity resilience.
Speaking at the ongoing UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence during a closed-door meeting of ministers, the Minister said Ghana had leveraged the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) not simply as an assessment exercise, but as a strategic tool for identifying national gaps and shaping the country’s digital transformation priorities.
He explained that the assessment had provided Ghana with a valuable framework for measuring its progress, particularly in areas such as AI skills development, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and the contribution of the digital economy to national development. According to Mr George, Ghana continues to record strong performance in international cybersecurity assessments. However, he noted that the readiness assessment had also exposed critical areas that require urgent intervention.
He pointed out that Ghana currently lacks comprehensive legislation specifically addressing all aspects of AI governance, making the development of appropriate regulatory and technical frameworks a key priority for the country.
The Minister stressed, however, that the government was already taking steps to address the gaps identified through the assessment. He disclosed that Ghana is implementing a US$200 million digitalisation project designed to strengthen critical components of the country’s digital infrastructure.
“He outlined several interventions, including upgrading the National Data Centre, operationalising a national data exchange hub, expanding last-mile connectivity, and strengthening cybersecurity resilience. Sam George further revealed that Cabinet has approved US$250 million for the establishment of a National AI and Computing Centre. The facility, he explained, will provide researchers, start-ups, universities, and technology innovators with affordable and sovereign access to high-performance computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The Minister stressed that this initiative is not just a policy commitment but a fully funded program already under implementation. He also called for greater international collaboration, describing the UNESCO readiness assessment as a tool for cooperation rather than merely a national exercise. According to him, the assessment enables countries to benchmark progress against shared objectives, learn from one another, and develop collective solutions instead of creating isolated frameworks.
Samuel Nartey George said countries at similar stages of digital development could benefit significantly from working together, particularly because no single country could build the entire artificial intelligence and advanced computing ecosystem alone. He also raised concerns about the continued dependence of developing countries on foreign cloud-computing providers.
He urged governments to carefully structure their data partnerships with foreign technology companies in order to protect national sovereignty, strategic data and national interests. The Minister called on UNESCO and its partners to provide developing countries with more capacity, rather than only more guidance, particularly through funding, infrastructure and technical expertise.
He said Ghana would welcome continued support from UNESCO in establishing and operationalising its national computing infrastructure, as well as strengthening the regulatory and technical capacity required to govern and deploy AI responsibly. Sam George reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to deepen its partnership with UNESCO and other stakeholders to ensure that artificial intelligence and digital technologies are used responsibly to support national development.
