Ghana is making its ambitions clear: no longer to undergo the digital revolution, but to become a key player in it. In Accra, President John Dramani Mahama unveiled the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, a comprehensive document of more than 80 pages structured around eight pillars.
The stated objective is to position the country as Africa’s leading AI hub by 2035. This ambition is backed by a strong economic target — an estimated 500 billion cedis (nearly $45 billion) contribution of artificial intelligence to the national GDP.
To achieve this vision, Accra is relying on two major levers. On one hand, investment in infrastructure, with $250 million allocated to the creation of a world-class computing center, complemented by $20 million for the short- and medium-term rollout of the strategy. On the other hand, a strong commitment to human capital development.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) played a central role in developing the project. Under the coordination of researcher Jerry John Kponyo, from the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL), the strategy was built in collaboration with the government, the private sector, and international partners.
Beyond technology, employment lies at the heart of this vision. President Mahama emphasized that Ghana will not be a mere consumer of innovation, but an active contributor to its development. The approach prioritizes inclusion and job creation, rather than replacing workers with machines.
This strategy comes at a time of significant pressure on the labor market. The government aims to reach 190,000 learners in technical and vocational training programs by 2026, up from fewer than 71,000 in 2022. The progress is notable, especially among women, whose participation now exceeds 50%. However, the challenge remains considerable: nearly 68% of the active youth population still works in precarious jobs without social protection.
In this context, artificial intelligence is seen as a lever for structural transformation. Ranked 72nd globally and 6th in Africa in the Global AI Index 2025, Ghana is now showing a clear political will to scale up. The real challenge will be turning this ambition into concrete results.