Ghana's digital transformation journey: progress amidst ongoing challenges

By Dumisani Sigogo

Delegates attending the Ghana Digital Africa Summit.

Despite Ghana's progress in digital transformation, challenges remain, such as high data costs, unequal service quality, and increased cyber threats, with over 6,400 incidents reported this year.

So says Samuel Nartey George, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, who reaffirmed the country's commitment to using digital technology for national prosperity and continental leadership at the Ghana Digital Africa Summit.

Held yesterday at the Kempinski Hotel, the event also marked the introduction of a critical digitalisation research on Ghana, which will serve as a road map for the country's future digital journey.

George emphasised that Ghana's full digital potential necessitates the purposeful design of laws, institutions, and collaborations that promote transformational technology for all Ghanaians.

He emphasised substantial progress in enacting changes regarded best practices throughout Africa, such as releasing extra spectrum, eliminating the electronic transactions fee, and approving technological neutrality for licensed operators.

In addition, George stated that intentional efforts over the last eight months have broadened internet infrastructure, ensured affordable access, and introduced data cost measures.

These initiatives have increased competition, reduced prices, and provided a more conducive environment for digital innovation. Ghana's digital economic policy and strategy are based on four pillars: infrastructure, skills, trust, and innovation.

According to the Minister, the One Million Coders program received over 90,000 applications and aims to equip 100,000 young Ghanaians with new digital skills by the end of the year. "The Ministry has reduced data costs, with MTN bundles increasing by 15% and Telecel and AirtelTigo increasing bandwidth by 10%" , he said

George went on to highlight five critical policy areas: connectivity for productivity, skills at scale with gender inclusion, digital finance, robust trust frameworks, and strategic technology procurement. “Despite progress, challenges persist, including high data costs, uneven service quality, and rising cyber risks, with Ghana facing over 6,400 incidents this year”, he noted.

Emphasizing a partnership agenda, the minister called upon telecommunication companies, startups, banks, and investors to collaborate in driving inclusive growth, inviting partners to invest, build, teach, and safeguard, transforming bandwidth into business, data into decisions, and code into jobs.