By Sarah Baafi
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced plans to bring Ghana’s .GH domain fully under state ownership, strengthening the country’s digital identity on the internet.
He revealed on Wednesday, January 22, 2026, during a working visit by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, that the root server for the .gh domain, managed privately since 1996 by internet pioneer Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, will be transitioned to government control.
“The .gh domain is our national identity on the internet. It cannot continue to sit in private custody. The state must own it,” Mr. Sam George said.
He praised the young professionals at the Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR) for their dedication, noting that their work over the years has been critical despite budgetary and administrative challenges.
“The young men there have really sacrificed and worked for this country. The GDNR is very important because they control the .gh domain, which is our national identity on the internet,” he said.
He added that the Ministry has made a special appeal to the Vice President to champion the transition of the .GH domain to state control.
He explained that most Ghanaian businesses currently use .com domains, which appear as foreign businesses online. By ensuring that companies register with a .com.gh domain, Ghanaian businesses will be able to assert a national digital identity, improving visibility and credibility online.
The Ministry is also engaging with the Registrar of Companies to automatically assign .com.gh domains to newly registered businesses, ensuring the country’s digital footprint is properly represented.
“Only a .com.gh domain shows that a business is truly Ghanaian. We want all new companies to have this digital identity by default,” the Minister added.
The initiative is part of broader reforms to strengthen Ghana’s digital sovereignty, positioning the country to take greater control over its online infrastructure and national data.
