The Government of Ghana is advancing its digital transformation agenda with the launch of a high-level Ministerial AI Bootcamp, part of a broader 2025–2035 National Artificial Intelligence Strategy aimed at positioning Ghana as a continental leader in ethical and inclusive AI adoption
The three-day residential bootcamp, which runs from July 25–27, 2025, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (MoCDTI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It marks a strategic step in Ghana’s broader AI agenda, with the country expected to table its National AI Strategy before Parliament in the coming weeks.
The programme comes at a critical time, as Ghana prepares to position itself as a hub for responsible and inclusive AI development in Africa. Projected to contribute up to $20 billion to the national economy by 2030, representing a 25% boost in output, AI is seen as a transformative force across sectors including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and security.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, speaking at the opening of the bootcamp, emphasized the holistic and inclusive approach of Ghana’s digital transformation strategy. He noted that the National AI Strategy, which covers the period from 2025 to 2035, is not limited to any one institution but is instead a whole-of-government vision.
Each ministry, department, and agency will be tasked with developing sector-specific AI use cases that address their unique mandates while contributing to national development goals. This structure, Debrah explained, will be supported by clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and effectiveness.
“I’m committed to addressing the multifaceted challenges facing the Ghanaian economy. The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization, has taken proactive steps to develop a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which is currently being finalized,” Mr. Debrah stated.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, underscored the transformative potential of AI across public service delivery and national development. He explained that the bootcamp was not only about building awareness but also about shifting leadership perspectives toward proactive, ethical, and strategic deployment of AI tools in governance. According to the Minister, AI presents valuable opportunities to automate routine government services, generate predictive insights in areas like healthcare and agriculture, and support more data-driven and efficient policymaking.
He also touched on the increasing relevance of AI in national security, education, and immigration management. In his remarks, he urged for the provision of AI verification tools to academic institutions to detect AI-generated submissions and avoid academic dishonesty. Furthermore, he emphasized AI’s critical role in border management, arguing that AI systems could be employed at visa processing centers and embassies to screen potential entrants into the country and safeguard Ghana’s peace and stability.
“What we need to do is to put at the disposal of the universities and lecturers the tools that will be able to identify that the content that has been submitted as a project work is AI-generated. Because that is what people fail to realise—that with Artificial Intelligence there is what we call metadata,”
“Even in our visa processing, we need to be using Artificial Intelligence at our visa agencies and embassies to determine the profile of people who are coming into the country. Ghana is an oasis of peace; we must be careful of who is coming into the country. AI will determine if you are fit to enter the country.” Hon. George explained.
This bootcamp builds on a similar Executive Leadership Programme hosted in April 2025, where the UNDP and the Government of Ghana introduced the foundational concepts of AI governance to high-level stakeholders. Participants in the current bootcamp include ministers from all five cabinet clusters, Economic, Governance & Legal, Infrastructure, Security, and Social Services, alongside AI focal persons from each ministry. Sessions included practical case studies, group strategy exercises, expert-led presentations, and discussions on real-world policy challenges.
Following the event, the designated AI focal persons will lead the development of detailed implementation roadmaps for their respective ministries, with technical assistance from UNDP and AI experts. These roadmaps will help ministries integrate AI into their systems in ways that enhance productivity, accountability, and citizen service delivery while ensuring ethical safeguards are in place..