President John Dramani Mahama on Friday officially launched Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy in Accra, committing $270 million to position the country as a leading digital innovation hub in Africa under a sweeping ten-year blueprint that spans infrastructure, education, and governance.
Launching the strategy in Accra on Friday, April 24, President Mahama described it as a defining step in Ghana’s transition towards a digitally driven economy, stressing that the country must move beyond passive consumption of emerging technologies to actively shaping their development. “This is a significant milestone in our national journey towards a digitally empowered, innovation-driven and globally competitive Ghana. We are going to be an active participant in designing, governing and deploying them for our national transformation,” he said.
Of the $270 million committed, $250 million is earmarked for the establishment of a national AI computing centre, with $20 million directed at short to medium-term strategy implementation. “Infrastructure is the foundation upon which innovation rests. These investments are bold but necessary,” Mahama stated.
The strategy, which runs from 2025 to 2035, is built around core pillars of ethical AI development, education, workforce readiness, AI-driven industrial innovation, and data governance. A Responsible Artificial Intelligence Office will be established to oversee implementation and coordinate stakeholders across the ten-year roadmap.
Mahama also revealed that ministers and senior government officials had already undergone a national AI boot camp, and that AI focal persons have been designated within ministries to lead adoption efforts across public administration.
On education, Mahama announced that AI, coding, robotics and electronics will soon be introduced at the basic school level, with the Curriculum Review Committee of the Ministry of Education tasked to complete its work by the end of June to allow for the rollout of the new subjects. The government’s One Million Coders Programme is also set to train 300,000 Ghanaians this year to build digital and AI skills at scale.
The President stressed that no Ghanaian, including those in the informal sector and persons living with disabilities, must be left behind as the country embraces artificial intelligence. Innovation hubs will be encouraged to grow beyond Accra, while universities will be supported to lead advanced research.
UNESCO country representative Edmond Moukala praised the initiative, saying Ghana was making a bold statement about a future “where innovation is married with equity and where technology serves the interest of all Ghanaians.”
