Ghana is set to become West Africa’s next Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub with the construction of a $1 billion Innovation Hub in Ningo Prampram, a landmark partnership between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The project, announced by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, is a collaboration with the Ports Customs Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), part of DP World, and G42, a global leader in AI technology.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to kickstart the initiative. Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, signed on behalf of the government, while Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman of PCFC and CEO of DP World, represented the UAE partners.
The Innovation Hub aligns with President John Mahama’s vision to position Ghana as a regional AI powerhouse. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister George emphasized the hub’s role in creating job opportunities for Ghanaian youth trained under the government’s 1 Million Coders Programme, launched to equip young people with technology and AI skills. “As we train a million coders, we need jobs for them. This is where PCFC and G42 come in, bringing their expertise and network to Ghana,” George said.
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The minister highlighted that G42’s success in transforming Dubai’s AI ecosystem and PCFC’s operation of 11 innovation hubs in Dubai, hosting over 11,000 companies—including global giants like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Meta—influenced the decision to establish the hub in Ghana. The first phase of the project, set to commence in 2026 on a 25-acre site, is expected to be completed within two years. George described it as “arguably one of the biggest investments in Ghana’s technological development over the next 24 months.”
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, in his remarks, underscored the transformative power of technology, noting that the Western world’s development was driven by innovation. “The world is ruled by ideas,” he said, adding that the hub would build critical AI and technology skills in Ghana while creating jobs for local talent, with companies operating in the hub prioritizing local employment over expatriates.
DP World, a global leader in logistics and supply chain management operating in 70 countries, brings extensive expertise to the project, while G42’s AI capabilities will ensure the hub meets world-class standards. The initiative is expected to attract thousands of technology firms, fostering economic growth and positioning Ghana as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation.
