Ghana to Launch National AI Strategy on April 24 | Discuss Ghana

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, announced that Ghana’s Cabinet has officially approved the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, with a formal launch scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026.

This rollout is the cornerstone of the government's "National Reset" for the tech sector, aiming to transition Ghana from a consumer of global AI tools to a leading African hub for responsible and ethical AI innovation.

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The $250 Million AI Computing Centre

The centerpiece of the strategy is a massive $250 million investment to establish a National AI Computing Centre:

Infrastructure Power: The centre will provide the high-performance computing power needed for large-scale AI research and development.

Sector Focus: It is designed to support AI applications in Agriculture (yield prediction), Healthcare (diagnostics), Education (personalized learning), and Financial Services.

Regional Hub: The goal is to make Ghana a primary destination for AI startups and researchers across the West African sub-region.

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Policy Foundations: The UNESCO RAM Report

The strategy’s launch follows a comprehensive AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) conducted in partnership with UNESCO and the European Union:

Ethical Safeguards: The strategy includes strict guidelines on data privacy, human rights, and "human-in-the-loop" oversight for high-stakes AI decisions.

Addressing Gaps: The RAM report identified that while Ghana has strong "Government Pillar" scores (59.53), it needs to improve its "Technology Sector" readiness (currently 25.35).

National Masterclass: To prepare the workforce, the Ministry has already trained over 100 senior public sector officials through the National AI Masterclass to ensure government institutions can lead the transformation.

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Bawumia’s "Six-Point" AI Vision

Speaking at the LSE Africa Summit 2026 just days ago, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia laid out the strategic framework that informed this new policy:

Digital Identity as "Rails": Bawumia argued that Ghana’s biometric ID system (Ghana Card) provides the "scale infrastructure" required for AI that other African nations lack.

The "Capability Stack": He warned that if Africa treats AI as "imported tools," it will remain a "price-taker." Instead, Ghana must build a "capability stack" of electricity, broadband, and home-grown talent.

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Snapshot: Ghana’s AI Journey (April 2026)

Milestone	Status / Date
Cabinet Approval	Confirmed (March 31, 2026).
Official Launch	April 24, 2026.
Initial Investment	$250 Million for AI Computing Centre.
Connectivity Base	Over 38 Million mobile subscriptions.

"Today marks a decisive step in Ghana's path toward a responsible, innovative, and globally competitive Artificial Intelligence ecosystem." — Hon. Samuel Nartey George.