Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Sam George, has unveiled an ambitious digital transformation plan that promises to reshape the country’s technological future.
Speaking during a comprehensive sector briefing, the Minister outlined sweeping reforms and strategic partnerships focused on artificial intelligence, digital youth empowerment, SIM registration modernisation, and critical infrastructure upgrades.
At the centre of this new digital agenda is a landmark partnership with MTN Ghana to co-develop a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Centre. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, MTN has also committed funding to train 5,000 young Ghanaians in AI and related digital skills over the next 18 months.
“This MOU will see MTN Ghana co-develop a national AI Innovation Centre,” Sam George said. “The agreement also commits funding towards training 5,000 young Ghanaians in AI and related digital skills. This partnership strengthens Ghana’s institutional and workforce readiness for AI adoption.”
The Minister also provided an update on the highly anticipated Ghana-UAE Innovation Hub, a $1 billion initiative aimed at accelerating innovation and digital industry growth. According to him, pre-construction activities are currently underway, with full-scale construction scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026.
“The Ghana-UAE Innovation Hub, which I mentioned earlier, is a $1 billion initiative. Work is ongoing and we expect construction to begin in Q1 2026. As we speak, the pre-project management office modalities are underway,” he stated.
Further reinforcing the government’s commitment to youth development, Sam George announced that the Ministry has directed the University of Ghana to enter into a formal agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to execute the Digital Youth Village project. The initiative, also linked to the $1 billion innovation framework, will foster digital skills training, AI hackathons, and academic alignment with future job markets.
“This partnership will see the co-creation of digital skills programs, support for AI hackathons, and curricular alignment,” he said. “It represents a deliberate move to prepare students for the evolving demands of Ghana’s digital economy.”
Sam George emphasised that these strategic partnerships reflect the government’s long-term commitment to inclusive and participatory digital governance. “Together, this engagement and partnership reflect our commitment to a participatory, inclusive approach to digital governance where partnership fuels progress and innovation is made truly national,” he said.
He also highlighted the critical role being played by the National Communications Authority (NCA) in strengthening sectoral regulation. The NCA, according to the Minister, has introduced several reforms focused on spectrum efficiency, security enhancement, and global collaboration ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference.
As part of efforts to build satellite infrastructure, five operators have received satellite service licenses, with two more entities granted provisional authorisation. These licenses are intended to support services such as smart agriculture, IoT deployment, tracking systems, and backhaul connectivity.
“A national spectrum policy is currently being developed to provide for efficient and equitable use of spectrum to meet the government’s growing spectrum demand,” he added.
He also revealed efforts to promote amateur radio use in Ghana. “The NCA is promoting amateur radio stations to build local expertise and resilience in communication. They aim to set up a model amateur radio station on its premises to support this,” George noted.
Turning to SIM registration, the Minister confirmed that a complete overhaul of the existing process is near completion, with rollout expected before the end of the third quarter of 2025. He assured the public that the new system will be fully digital, fast, and stress-free.
“We’re looking to start SIM registration before the end of Q3,” he stated. “But rest assured, this SIM registration will be like none you’ve ever seen. There will be no queues, there will be no loss of man-hours. You will do it electronically, and you will get the message.”
The SIM re-registration will be executed in three distinct phases: biometric data cleanup, controlled new registrations, and business SIM verification with deactivation of non-compliant records. The Minister said around 80% of the biometric validation process is already complete.
“We hold a lot of biometric data, so there’s no need for you to come back and resubmit,” he said. “If we can access that data, clean it, and match it with you, the process becomes seamless.”
Alongside the SIM registration process, a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) is being deployed to track and block stolen or counterfeit mobile devices. The CEIR will work hand-in-hand with telcos, the Ghana Revenue Service, Customs systems, and the NCA’s internal databases.
The Minister also highlighted progress on regional integration. Ghana’s bilateral roaming agreements are now active with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, allowing Ghanaians to pay the same mobile rates as locals when they travel across these borders. Talks with Nigeria are ongoing, with implementation expected before the end of 2025.
“If you were to travel from Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, or Benin, you would pay the rates that locals in that country pay. You’re not going to be paying huge roaming costs,” he said.
Sam George also announced that Ghana’s National Telecommunications Emergency Plan has been completed, ensuring uninterrupted communication during national crises and disasters.
To further boost internet performance, the Minister unveiled plans to localise internet traffic. He explained that most of Ghana’s internet exchange points are currently located in London and Portugal, which increases data travel time and cost. To resolve this, Ghana is commissioning a new London Internet Exchange (LINX) Point in Accra, with additional local exchange points planned before year-end.
“When you try to access the internet, your data often travels to exchange points in London or Portugal before coming back to Ghana,” he said. “This increases data usage. But if we have more exchange points locally, the travel time is shorter and your data is used more efficiently.”
“The beauty of this new exchange point is that it’s not just going to be placed on one primary data centre, but it will also have backups in Digital Realty and one other data centre,” he revealed. “We’re trying to attract at least two more exchange points before the end of the year so that internet speeds improve and the overall digital experience is enhanced.”
