A billion-dollar innovation center is set to be built in the nation as part of initiatives aimed at establishing Ghana as the leading artificial intelligence hub in Western Africa.
The facility being built in Ningo Prampram will be a collaboration between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, spearheaded by the Ports Customs Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and G42.
PCFC is a subsidiary of DP World, and G42 ranks among the top AI companies globally.
As a result, on Thursday, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation inked a Memorandum of Understanding with PCFC to implement the project.
On behalf of the government, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, put his signature to the agreement. Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, who serves as both the Group Chairman of PCFC and the CEO of DP World, affixed his signature representing his nation.
During his speech, Mr. George mentioned that the Innovation Hub, which will be financed by PCFC, is an integral part of President John Mahama’s plan to transform Ghana into the leading artificial intelligence center in West Africa.
In keeping with the aim of establishing Ghana as the leading center for artificial intelligence in Western Africa, President Mahama initiated the 1 Million Coders program to provide technological and AI expertise to young people.
“And for our part, as we develop a workforce of one million coders, we must ensure job opportunities for them. So, how do we draw these employment prospects? This is precisely where PCFC and G42 step in,” he stated.
The minister mentioned that the partners were swayed by the 1 million Coders Programme and consequently opted to set up the Innovation Hub in Ghana.
He mentioned that G42 has spearheaded the evolution of Dubai’s artificial intelligence sector, and PCFC presently oversees more than 11 Innovation Hubs across Dubai.
He mentioned that PCFC presently collaborates with all ten major global tech firms including Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Meta.
"The innovation hub established in Ghana by PCFC brings along more than 11,000 affiliated companies from the United Arab Emirates to establish a presence in Ghana," the minister stated.
Mr. George stated that the initial stage of the project, spanning across 25 acres, would commence in 2026 and finish within two years.
"Regarding technological advancement, this could be considered one of the largest investments happening in Ghana within the coming 24 months," Mr. George noted.
He mentioned that one of the advantages of the Innovation Hub is that it will assist in generating employment opportunities for young people since the tech and AI firms operating within the hub will prioritize hiring local talent instead of bringing in foreign workers.
In his comments, Sultan Sulayem stated that the world is presently governed by concepts.
He stated that the development of the Western world was driven by technological advancements and suggested that Ghana could follow a similar path.
Sultan Sulayem stated that the Innovation Hub would significantly contribute to developing essential AI and technological abilities in Ghana, as well as assist in generating employment opportunities for young people.
He mentioned that DP World operates in 70 countries worldwide and stands as a prominent player in logistics and supply chains, making it well-positioned to undertake this project.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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