President John Dramani Mahama has announced a $250 million government investment to establish a world-class artificial intelligence (AI) computing centre, as part of efforts to position Ghana as a leader in emerging technologies.
Speaking at the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy on Friday, April 24, the President said the facility will serve as the backbone of Ghana’s AI development.
“I am therefore pleased to announce major financial commitments towards our AI agenda. Ghana will invest $250 million to establish a world-class AI computing centre,” he stated.
According to him, the centre will act as a hub for research, innovation, and enterprise, enabling local talent to develop solutions for Ghana and the wider African continent.
“The proposed AI computing centre will serve as a nerve centre for research, innovation and enterprise, enabling Ghanaian talent to build solutions not only for our country but also for the wider African continent,” he added.
In addition, the government will allocate $20 million to support the short- to medium-term implementation of the National AI Strategy.
President Mahama described the combined investment as bold but necessary for Ghana’s long-term development, stressing that success will depend on strong collaboration across sectors.
“Success will require strong partnerships among the state, academia, civil society, industry, and our development partners,” he said.
He acknowledged contributions from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, the UK High Commission, GIZ, United Nations agencies, and the Responsible AI Lab at KNUST.
The President outlined key pillars of the strategy, including ethical AI development, skills training, industrial innovation, data governance, research, and improved public sector services.
He emphasised that capacity building remains central to the initiative, noting that skilled human resources, strong institutions, and reliable infrastructure are critical to success.
Highlighting the importance of digital infrastructure, President Mahama compared it to traditional development assets such as roads and energy systems, stressing that data, connectivity, and computing power are now essential to national progress.
“We are building deliberately because infrastructure is the foundation upon which innovation rests,” he said.