Minister Samuel Nartey George Unveils Centralised Technical Review for Public Sector AI Acquisitions

The Ghanaian government is establishing a centralised technical review process for all artificial intelligence (AI) systems acquired by public institutions. Speaking at the US Embassy AI Forum in Accra, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, revealed that this directive is designed to bolster data protection, cybersecurity, and domestic oversight of the nation’s digital infrastructure. This measure is a cornerstone of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy overseen by President John Mahama, which seeks to ensure that technology adoption aligns with Ghana's sovereign interests and development goals. Under this new framework, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations will define the technical requirements, while the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) will lead the technical evaluation of all proposed AI deployments. This system is intended to supplement existing public procurement laws by enforcing rigorous benchmarks. Acquisitions will be assessed based on interoperability, data protection protocols, cybersecurity resilience, and sustainability. A critical focus of the review is the facilitation of local skills transfer, ensuring that the deployment of advanced technology benefits the Ghanaian workforce and reduces long-term dependency on specific international vendors. The initiative forms part of a broader, phased approach to AI adoption across vital sectors such as finance and health. To support this digital transition, the government is making significant investments in physical and human infrastructure. This includes upgrades to the National Data Centre and the development of a dedicated AI Compute Centre. These hardware improvements are being matched by capacity-building efforts, most notably the One Million Coders Programme, which has already registered over 141,950 participants eager to enter the digital economy. Looking ahead, the government is finalising a 10-year National AI Delivery Framework to provide a long-term roadmap for implementation. By centralising the evaluation process, Ghana aims to secure its data sovereignty and foster a self-sustaining technological ecosystem. As AI continues to evolve globally, this proactive regulatory stance positions Ghana to harness the benefits of automation while mitigating the risks associated with data privacy and foreign technological dominance.