By: Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
The National ICT Week has officially opened in Accra, bringing together a wide array of stakeholders to accelerate the country’s ambition of becoming Africa’s leading digital trade hub.
The four-day event is being held under the theme: “Ghana as Africa’s Digital Trade Hub – Innovation, Policy, and Partnerships for the Future.”
Opening the event on behalf of the Vice President, Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Policy Adviser for Political Affairs at the Office of the Vice President, highlighted the country’s remarkable progress in creating a conducive environment for digital trade to thrive.
”Our people have nurtured an enterprising culture, and our institutions continue to earn the trust of citizens and investors alike,” he said. “With a diverse and dynamic economy, Ghana is well-positioned to lead the continent in digital trade.”
Dr. Ampofo reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to harnessing innovation, bold policies, and strategic partnerships to drive its digital transformation. He highlighted key initiatives, including the 24-Hour Economy and the One Million Coders Project, both aimed at enhancing productivity and equipping the youth with digital skills essential for the future of work.
Dr. Ampofo also emphasized Ghana’s unique status as the only African country with fully interoperable instant payment systems, which is boosting e-commerce, financial inclusion, and mobile money penetration. “This unique achievement has fueled mobile money adoption and positioned Ghana as a leader in digital payments,” he added.
He further mentioned that the government is expanding its national fiber-optic backbone and enhancing access to public services through platforms like Ghana.Gov, which centralizes applications for passports, taxes, and licensing.
”Ghana is ready,” Dr. Ampofo said, “but our success will be measured by what we accomplish together — through shared innovation, sound policy, and unwavering partnership.”
He emphasized that Ghana is also strengthening its regulatory frameworks with continental standards to promote a secure, transparent, and trusted digital trade ecosystem across the continent. “By harmonizing our regulatory frameworks with continental standards, we are strengthening cybersecurity, protecting data privacy, and building the confidence needed for businesses and consumers to thrive in the digital space,” Dr. Ampofo stated.
Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mohammed Adam Sukparu, disclosed that legislation will soon be introduced in Parliament to future-proof Ghana’s digital ecosystem. He also emphasized the need for stronger frameworks to ensure digital trust and data protection.
The National ICT Week serves as a platform for stakeholders to not only reflect on Ghana’s digital progress but also forge new partnerships and define next steps to making Ghana a digital hub in Africa.
Speaking at the opening, Acting Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, said the week will feature seminars, exhibitions, panel discussions, a startup pitch competition, a digital trust documentary screening, and the launch of an e-commerce guidebook.
The National ICT Week featured representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology and Innovations, the AfCFTA Secretariat, Bank of Ghana, leading telecom companies, fintech platforms, academia, and development partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, and UNDP.
