Ghana is accelerating its digital transformation with the official launch of its national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. Through this roadmap, the authorities aim to turn the country into a major African AI hub by 2035 while profoundly modernizing the labor market.
Presented by President John Dramani Mahama, the strategy targets an artificial intelligence contribution of nearly 500 billion cedis — approximately 45 billion dollars — to the national GDP by 2035, according to local media reports.
To achieve this objective, Ghana is primarily focusing on developing human capital and establishing a world-class artificial intelligence center. The project will require an estimated investment of 250 million dollars, in addition to 20 million dollars allocated for the immediate and gradual rollout of the strategy.
During the official launch, the Ghanaian president stated that his country no longer wants to be "a mere consumer of future technologies,” but now intends to actively participate in their design and deployment.
Researcher Jerry John Kponyo, who led the initiative alongside the government, international partners, and the private sector, emphasized that the strategy is based on extensive consultations and strong collective mobilization.
This initiative comes as Ghana seeks to respond to the rapid changes in the job market. Authorities notably aim to strengthen technical and vocational training, targeting 190,000 learners enrolled in specialized institutes by 2026, compared to fewer than 71,000 in 2022, according to official figures.