Ghana Signs $1bn Landmark Deal with UAE to Develop AI and Emerging Technologies

Accra, Ghana - 31 May, 2025 - Ghana is poised to become a major hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in Africa following a landmark partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub, a $1 billion project aimed at accelerating digital transformation and positioning Ghana as a tech powerhouse on the continent.

The hub, which will span 25 square kilometers in Ningo-Prampram, is expected to attract over 11,000 global companies, including tech giants such as Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, IBM, and Alphabet. The project will serve as a regional base for AI engineering, business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing, and machine learning tailored to Africa's unique data needs.

Ghana's Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, described the agreement as "a bold ambition grounded in mutual respect," reflecting President John Dramani Mahama's vision to make innovation a key driver of sustainable and inclusive development.

The Minister noted that the hub will create a space where investment meets ingenuity, and where Ghana's youth can develop and deploy advanced technologies.

“This hub will create a space where investment meets ingenuity, where the creativity of Ghana’s youth is matched with opportunities to try, and where advanced technologies are developed, deployed and exported,” George said.

“It is about building a nation where our brightest minds no longer look outwards for opportunity, but see it in their own backyards.”

The project is expected to be a catalyst for local innovation and job creation, with the first phase to be fully financed by the UAE's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC). The Government of Ghana will provide the land for the project.

According to George, the initiative aligns with the government's flagship One Million Coders Programme, which seeks to equip Ghanaian youth with skills in AI, cybersecurity, data protection, and digital governance.

“To Ghana’s vibrant community of tech entrepreneurs, innovators, and digital talents, this is your platform,” he said.

“We are creating the conditions for a digital renaissance, led by Ghanaians for Ghanaians. Our goal is not to catch up with the digital age, but to help shape it.”

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, PCFC Chairman, highlighted innovation's crucial role in generating national wealth, referencing Apple's success and DP World's automated Rotterdam port. He explained that automation and AI are transforming work, but not necessarily reducing jobs, instead creating new opportunities in design, strategy, and customer engagement.

Bin Sulayem believes Ghana's strategic location makes it an ideal production and distribution hub for West Africa, particularly as global supply chains become more localized.

Today, wealth is not measured by gold or oil but by the ability to generate, implement, and scale ideas,” he said.

“Look at Apple—they transformed a simple concept into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. This is the power of ideas, engineering, and innovation.”

“Jobs aren’t disappearing—they’re evolving. Our people are moving from manual tasks to managing smart processes,” he said.

Source: Lead News Online