Ghana is targeting completion of the first phase of a national computing facility within 24 months to provide researchers, universities and industry with AI development capacity. The government is currently procuring data centre infrastruct
We are currently going through procurement with PPA on getting a data centre, the computer infrastructure and all the various parts of it put together. 24 months from now, we should have phase one completed with serious computing infrastructure that we can then give to our researchers, our industry and our universities who are currently buying tokens outside the country and buying capacity outside
New facility aims to end reliance on foreign computing services
The facility is expected to help reduce the reliance of Ghanaian researchers and businesses on computing services purchased from providers outside the country.
Ghana is targeting completion of the first phase of a national computing facility within 24 months to provide researchers, universities and industry players with access to computing capacity needed to advance artificial intelligence development. The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the government is currently undertaking procurement processes with the Public Procurement Authority to acquire the data centre infrastructure and related equipment for the project.
The facility will help reduce the reliance of Ghanaian researchers and businesses on computing services purchased from providers outside the country. Speaking at the JoyNews Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy on Wednesday, October 21, Mr George described the planned facility as an important first step in building the country's capacity to develop and deploy AI technologies.
The proposed facility is expected to provide computing resources for institutions and businesses working with AI, which often requires substantial processing power to train models, run applications and analyse large volumes of data. Mr George said the project formed part of the foundational work needed to position Ghana for greater participation in the rapidly developing AI economy.
Initial milestone, not complete solution
The minister cautioned against expecting the country to address all its AI infrastructure and development needs within the remaining period of the Mahama administration. He said establishing the computing facility would be an initial milestone rather than a complete solution to the country's AI ambitions.
His comments highlight the scale of the task facing Ghana as it seeks to build the infrastructure, skills and institutional capacity required to benefit from AI. Access to computing power is one of the requirements for AI research and commercial development.
Government commitment
We are currently going through procurement with PPA on getting a data centre, the computer infrastructure and all the various parts of it put together. 24 months from now, we should have phase one completed with serious computing infrastructure that we can then give to our researchers, our industry and our universities who are currently buying tokens outside the country and buying capacity outside the country.
The government's 24-month target sets out a timeline for the first phase. The impact of the proposed facility will depend on its capacity, affordability, reliability and accessibility to researchers, universities and businesses.
It is the first step, it is a long journey. Are we going to fix all of our AI needs in two years before the Mahama administration is off? That is wishful thinking, it is impossible but we are taking the key foundational steps that will set this country on the right track for its AI journey.
The minister's remarks indicate that further investment and sustained policy implementation will be needed to meet the country's broader AI ambitions beyond the initial phase.
Mentioned in this story
Announced the government's 24-month target for completing the first phase of a national computing facility and described it as an important first step in building Ghana's AI capacity. He cautioned that the facility would be an initial milestone rather than a complete solution to the country's AI ambitions.
“We are currently going through procurement with PPA on getting a data centre, the computer infrastructure and all the various parts of it put together. 24 months from now, we should have phase one completed with serious computing infrastructure that we can then give to our researchers, our industry and our universities who are currently buying tokens outside the country and buying capacity outside”
Launching a national computing facility project to provide researchers, universities and industry with AI computing capacity and reduce reliance on external computing services.
Currently undertaking procurement processes with the government to acquire data centre infrastructure and related equipment for the national computing facility project.
Hosted the forum on AI and the Ghana Economy on October 21 where Minister George announced details of the computing facility project.