Politics

Ghana leads Africa's digital transformation with ambitious AI and infrastructure push at Africa Tech Festival 2025

Monday, 24 November 2025 9:33PM UTC

Ghana unveils a comprehensive digital agenda at Africa Tech Festival 2025, focusing on AI, broadband expansion, and local innovation to position itself as Africa's digital hub.

Ghana is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa's digital future with an ambitious and comprehensive agenda for digital transformation, unveiled at the Africa Tech Festival 2025 in Cape Town by the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George. Anchored on robust policy reforms, infrastructural expansion, and bolstering local innovation, the government aims to stimulate a resilient digital economy that empowers Ghanaian creators and technologists across multiple sectors.

Central to this vision is the forthcoming Innovation and Startup Fund, which Minister George revealed is nearing legislative completion. Seeded with an initial US$50 million, this fund is designed to support a wide array of innovators throughout Ghana, transcending the dominant fintech focus to create a more diversified technology-driven economy. Recognising the challenge local tech startups face in securing adequate financing, often due to traditional financial institutions' limited understanding of their capital needs, the government is calling for enhanced angel investment networks and venture capital participation to enable innovations originating within Africa to scale globally. “The solutions to Africa’s challenges will not come from Silicon Valley,” Minister George stated, emphasising the necessity of homegrown innovation.

Agriculture, a key sector for Ghana, features prominently in the government's digital agenda. Efforts are underway to develop large language models (LLMs) and voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) tools tailored in local farming languages to assist farmers with crop advisory services, weather alerts, and precision farming, tools specifically designed for farmers who cannot read or write in English or even their own local dialects. Collaborations with institutions like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) support these initiatives. The government is additionally encouraging Agritech innovations aimed at enhancing food processing and preservation, critical to reducing significant post-harvest losses and stabilising food security during lean seasons.

The expansion of broadband infrastructure is another high priority, with plans to deploy five million fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections over the next three years, encompassing rural areas to ensure inclusive digital development nationwide. However, Minister George cautioned that merely increasing coverage is insufficient if affordability barriers are not addressed, warning that high data prices often mirror urban income levels and may perpetuate inequality in rural communities.

Complementing these infrastructure and innovation efforts, Ghana is preparing to submit an updated National AI Strategy to Cabinet, targeting sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education technology, financial inclusion, and government digital services. The government also plans to enhance the ghana.gov platform to facilitate seamless access to over 16,000 public services, promoting efficient governance and citizen engagement.

MTN Ghana is a pivotal private sector player complementing government ambitions. The company’s Chief Digital Officer, Ibrahim Misto, outlined MTN's vision to transition from a traditional telecom provider to a comprehensive digital lifestyle partner, offering AI-powered services tailored to households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). MTN aims to democratise AI by delivering accessible, localized tools, boosting productivity and decision-making for citizens and businesses alike. The company’s strategy includes accelerating home connectivity and providing unified digital services, ranging from home security to entertainment and gaming, with plans to roll out simplified digital products that improve everyday life. This accords with MTN's broader pan-African expansion of AI initiatives, evidenced by partnerships like the 'One Million Coders Program' launched jointly with the Ghanaian government to equip youth with skills in AI, coding, and digital technologies.

The strong performance of MTN Ghana mirrors this enthusiasm, with the company reporting a 35.9% rise in service revenue for the first nine months of 2025, aided by lower inflation and stable exchange rates. These financial results support MTN’s continued investments in AI and digital inclusion, including plans to expand initiatives across Africa in collaboration with global technology firms.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, highlighted that while network coverage now exceeds 90 percent, affordability remains a serious barrier to digital inclusion. High device costs and limited access to online services continue to exclude many. She urged stronger tax incentives for affordable smartphones and emphasised the need for homegrown payment systems to reduce dependence on Western-controlled platforms like SWIFT. Her call for thoughtful, inclusive policy reviews to avoid regulatory gaps stresses the delicate balance needed to foster sustainable industry growth over the coming years.

Owusu-Ankomah also praised the government's recently approved Duct Policy, mandating fibre ducts in new road projects, a significant step toward reducing infrastructure disruptions and enhancing network reliability. She underlined the importance of public-private partnerships, reduced industry-specific taxes, and forward-thinking, stable policies as essential ingredients for realising Ghana's potential as a digital hub for Africa.

Overall, Ghana's multi-faceted approach, fusing government-led policy reforms, infrastructure development, local AI innovation, private sector engagement, and strategic capacity-building, positions the country to lead Africa's next wave of digital transformation. As Minister George noted, sustaining economic momentum through technology will require continued collaborations, deepened digital governance, and a firm commitment to inclusive and scalable innovation ecosystems. The vision for Ghana is not only growth but the establishment of a self-sufficient digital economy driven by African ingenuity and tailored to local needs.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] News Ghana – Paragraphs 1 to 9, 11 to 15
^[2] MTN – Paragraphs 10, 12
^[3] ISD Ghana – Paragraphs 1, 2
^[4] Reuters – Paragraphs 10, 11
^[5] Ministry of Communications Ghana – Paragraphs 2, 3
^[6] Reuters – Paragraph 10
^[7] Ministry of Communications Ghana – Paragraphs 4, 14

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.newsghana.com.gh/africa-tech-2025-mtn-govt-commit-to-expanding-ai-broadband-and-innovation-growth/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.mtn.com/mtn-and-ghana-agree-to-work-together-to-extend-ai-coding-and-digital-skills/ - In March 2025, MTN Group and the Ghanaian government signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the 'One Million Coders Program'. This initiative aims to equip young Ghanaians with skills in artificial intelligence, coding, and digital technologies, supporting the country's digital transformation efforts. The partnership reflects a commitment to enhancing the digital capabilities of Ghana's youth, preparing them for future industries and fostering innovation within the nation.
https://isd.gov.gh/africa-must-drive-its-own-digital-transformation-communication-minister/ - In October 2025, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, urged African nations to take charge of their digital transformation. He highlighted Ghana's bold digital agenda, focusing on innovation, infrastructure, inclusion, and impact. The minister emphasized the importance of developing homegrown solutions to address African challenges and achieving digital sovereignty through initiatives like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPS).
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-telco-mtns-service-revenue-rises-26-nigeria-ghana-growth-2025-11-17/ - In November 2025, MTN reported a 25.9% rise in service revenue for the nine months ending September 2025, driven by strong performances in Nigeria and Ghana. MTN Ghana experienced a 35.9% increase, attributed to lower inflation and more stable exchange rates. The company plans to expand its AI-powered digital inclusion initiative with Microsoft across Africa in early 2026, highlighting the growing role of AI in the region's digital economy.
https://moc.gov.gh/2025/09/03/ghana-showcases-commitment-to-digital-transformation-at-digital-africa-summit/ - In September 2025, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, reaffirmed the country's commitment to leveraging digital technology for national prosperity at the Digital Africa Summit. He highlighted reforms such as releasing additional spectrum, removing the electronic transactions levy, and adopting technology neutrality for licensed operators. The minister emphasized the need for deliberate policies and partnerships to foster transformative technology for all Ghanaians.
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/safricas-mtn-teams-up-with-china-telecom-huawei-5g-ai-2024-11-26/ - In November 2024, MTN South Africa entered a strategic collaboration with China Telecom and Huawei to enhance its offerings in 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and business solutions. This partnership aims to drive the development of digital infrastructure across the continent, providing new business opportunities and improved technology for South Africans, including applications related to the Internet of Things (IoT).
https://moc.gov.gh/2025/05/16/ministry-of-communication-digital-technology-and-innovations-applauds-ghanas-thriving-tech-sector-during-ministers-familiarisation-tour/ - In May 2025, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, underscored the significant innovation and quality of work within Ghana's tech ecosystem. Following a familiarisation tour of tech companies, the minister highlighted the ministry's renewed mandate under President Mahama, focused on championing Ghana's dynamic digital and innovation agenda. The tour included visits to companies like Zipline's Medical Drone Centre in Suhum, showcasing the country's advancements in technology and innovation.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative presents recent developments in Ghana's digital transformation, including the establishment of a $50 million Innovation and Startup Fund and the One Million Coders program. These initiatives were announced in May 2025 and March 2025, respectively. The article also references the Africa Tech Festival 2025, scheduled for November 2025, indicating timely reporting. However, some information overlaps with earlier reports from September 2025, suggesting partial recycling of content. The presence of a press release from the Ministry of Communications Ghana in September 2025 indicates that some content may be based on official statements. This typically warrants a high freshness score, but the overlap with earlier reports suggests a need for caution. Additionally, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Overall, the freshness score is 8 due to the inclusion of recent developments and events.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Minister Samuel Nartey George, such as his statement, "The solutions to Africa’s challenges will not come from Silicon Valley." This quote appears in earlier material from May 2025, indicating potential reuse. Variations in wording across different sources suggest possible paraphrasing or selective quoting. No online matches were found for some other quotes, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content. However, the reuse of certain quotes from earlier material suggests a need for caution. Overall, the quotes check score is 7 due to the mix of reused and potentially original content.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from News Ghana, a reputable news outlet. It references official statements from the Ministry of Communications Ghana and includes information from MTN Ghana, a major telecommunications company. The presence of official sources and reputable organizations enhances the reliability of the information presented. Overall, the source reliability score is 9 due to the involvement of credible entities.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative presents plausible claims, such as the establishment of a $50 million Innovation and Startup Fund and the One Million Coders program, both of which are consistent with previous reports from May and March 2025. The article also mentions the Africa Tech Festival 2025, scheduled for November 2025, aligning with the event's official website. However, the inclusion of recycled material and potential reuse of quotes suggests a need for further verification. Overall, the plausibility check score is 8 due to the consistency with known events and initiatives.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents a mix of recent developments and recycled content, with some quotes reused from earlier material. While the sources are generally reliable, the overlap with previous reports and potential reuse of quotes raise concerns about the originality and freshness of the content. Further verification is recommended to ensure the accuracy and originality of the information presented.

Digital Transformation
AI Innovation
Infrastructure Development