Ghana has entered into a landmark $1 billion partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish Africa’s largest innovation and technology hub in Ningo-Prampram. This collaboration, involving Dubai’s Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and the leading AI firm G42, aims to position Ghana as a premier digital and artificial intelligence (AI) hub in West Africa.
The agreement was signed by Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, and the Chairman of the UAE’s PCFC, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. The initiative, named the “Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub,” is expected to attract over 11,000 global technology firms, including industry giants like Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, IBM, and Alphabet, seeking to expand their presence in the country and across the continent.
The first phase of the project involves the development of a 25-square-kilometer site in Ningo-Prampram, with the Ghanaian government providing the land for the initiative. The PCFC will fully fund this phase in collaboration with AI firms involved in Dubai’s AI transformation.
This initiative aligns with President John Mahama’s vision of transforming Ghana into the next AI hub of West Africa. As part of this vision, the government has launched the “One Million Coders” program to equip the youth with technology and AI skills. The establishment of the innovation hub is expected to create job opportunities for these trained individuals, as the technology and AI companies operating in the hub will employ locals rather than bringing in expatriates.
Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Haruna Mohammed, emphasized that the hub will drive AI engineering, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and Africa-focused machine learning. He believes that Ghanaian youths will benefit from training and employment opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, data protection, and other high-demand digital skills, helping to cultivate a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Prampram, the capital of the Ningo-Prampram District, is a coastal town in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Located approximately 45 minutes from Accra, the national capital, and 15 minutes from the port city of Tema, Prampram is an emerging center of industrial activities.
The establishment of the innovation hub in this strategic location is expected to attract foreign investment, foster economic growth across West Africa, and support startups, entrepreneurs, and digital infrastructure development.
The Ghana-UAE partnership reflects a shared ambition to transform Ghana into a regional technology and innovation hub. With the involvement of global ICT giants and the support of the Ghanaian government, the innovation hub in Ningo-Prampram is poised to become a beacon of digital transformation in West Africa.
As the world increasingly values the ability to generate, implement, and scale ideas, this initiative positions Ghana to harness the power of technology and innovation for national development.
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