President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in Accra, outlining a bold vision to position the country as a leading AI hub in West Africa and across the continent.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, April 24, the President described the strategy as a major milestone in Ghana’s journey toward becoming a digitally empowered, innovation-driven and globally competitive nation.
He emphasised that Ghana intends to move beyond being a consumer of emerging technologies to becoming an active participant in shaping them.
“This is a significant milestone in our national journey towards a digitally empowered, innovation-driven and globally competitive Ghana. It is also a statement of intent that Ghana will not be just a passive consumer of technologies shaping the future but that we are going to be an active participant in designing, governing and deploying them for our national transformation,” he said.
President Mahama further highlighted the government’s ambition to leverage artificial intelligence to drive economic growth, create jobs, strengthen institutions and promote inclusive development.
“Our vision is therefore clear to position Ghana as a leading AI hub in West Africa and the wider continental region, driving innovation, creating jobs and strengthening institutions and delivering inclusive national development,” he stated.
He noted that achieving this goal will require strong leadership and a deep understanding of digital tools at the highest levels of government, revealing that ministers and senior officials recently underwent a National AI bootcamp.
“This vision requires leadership from the top and that is why I recently packed all my ministers and senior government officials into the National AI bootcamp. That decision was deliberate. Leadership must understand the tools that will define our future,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Grants and Research at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, outlined key institutional proposals captured in the strategy to support its implementation.
He disclosed that plans are underway to establish an independent, well-resourced Responsible AI Authority within the first year to oversee ethical AI deployment, monitor developments and coordinate implementation across sectors. He added that a national AI office under the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation is also being proposed to manage inter-ministerial coordination and execution.
To ensure sustainable funding, Prof. Kponyo said the strategy further proposes the establishment of a National AI Fund to drive innovation and support long-term implementation.
The National AI Strategy is expected to guide Ghana’s approach to artificial intelligence, focusing on governance, innovation and capacity building, as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.