Ghanaian authorities have finalized their national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, recently approved by the government. Its official launch is expected in the coming weeks under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
The announcement was made by Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, during the National Data Protection Conference 2026 held on Thursday, February 26.
The roadmap is built around four major priorities. First, the enhancement and protection of national data — including African genomic data — regarded as a strategic lever for sovereignty. Second, the development of robust digital infrastructure and sufficient computing capacity to support innovation and large-scale data processing.
The strategy also emphasizes skills development and capacity building, notably through the “One Million Coders” program, aimed at creating a strong talent pool in AI and cybersecurity. Finally, it establishes an ethical and transparent governance framework, based on concrete use cases, to ensure tangible benefits for the entire population.
Through this plan, Ghanaian authorities aim to position digital technologies at the heart of the country’s economic and social transformation. During the launch of the National AI Strategy Stakeholder Consultation Forum in May 2025, Samuel Nartey George outlined several potential applications: improving agricultural yields through crop health forecasting, accelerating medical diagnostics, enabling personalized learning in education, optimizing transport safety, and strengthening border surveillance.
This ambition is supported by the United Nations. In its E-Government Survey 2024, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) notes that artificial intelligence can significantly enhance public sector efficiency. Automating administrative tasks could reduce processing times, eliminate redundancies, detect anomalies, classify data, and generate more accurate recommendations.
Despite these promising prospects, DESA warns of several risks, including algorithmic bias that may exclude or misrepresent certain groups, as well as ethical, security, and social concerns.
The digital divide also remains a major challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where unequal access to infrastructure and digital skills could hinder the effective adoption of AI technologies in public administration.
