By Sarah Baafi
The Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, says government is prioritizing drone and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as critical tools for accelerating Ghana’s industrial transformation, job creation, and export competitiveness.
Speaking at the Drone Ignite Africa Summit 2026 held in Accra on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Hon. Ahi noted that Ghana is strategically positioning itself to harness emerging technologies to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
According to him, drones and AI are no longer futuristic ideas but practical economic tools already enhancing productivity and governance across key sectors, including agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and public safety.
In the agricultural sector, the Deputy Minister explained that precision technologies such as crop monitoring, smart irrigation, targeted application, and yield forecasting have the potential to significantly boost productivity while reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
He added that the adoption of these technologies is also creating new employment opportunities for young people in agri-tech, geospatial services, and data-driven innovation.
Touching on mining and industrial development, Hon. Ahi said drone-based data and AI analytics are improving exploration efficiency, strengthening environmental monitoring, enhancing land management, and ensuring regulatory compliance, all of which contribute to increased investor confidence.
The Deputy Minister stressed that Ghana is determined to transition from being a consumer of imported technologies to becoming a creator and exporter of digital solutions. He said this vision would be supported through regulatory clarity, innovation financing, and stronger regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He further called on the private sector, academia, development partners, and young innovators to collaborate with government in building a robust, technology-driven industrial ecosystem.
Also addressing the summit, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Axis Drone Surveys, Mr. Derrick Annan, encouraged young people to explore drone technology as a viable and fast-growing career path.
Other speakers at the event highlighted the role of drone technology in strengthening institutional capacity, promoting innovation, and improving data collection in mining communities to support responsible and sustainable mining practices.
