Ghana targets $5bn in annual economic gains from AI – Sam George

Ghana is aiming to generate approximately US$5 billion annually through the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) according to the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George. The projected gains will stem from enhanced agricultural productivity, decreased food imports, and increased efficiency in public services.

This will be achieved by utilizing AI to boost productivity across key economic sectors, eliminate operational inefficiencies, and improve Ghana's capacity to produce more of what it currently imports.

Sam George highlighted that the government's economic transformation over the next decade hinges on the effective deployment of AI in various sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and public administration. He emphasized that agriculture is a sector where Ghana could experience significant economic benefits. The minister pointed out that Ghana spends considerable funds on importing food due to foreign farmers adopting technologies that enable higher yields from the same land area.

By leveraging AI via agricultural mechanization centers, Ghanaian farmers can increase their yields, raise local food production, and reduce reliance on imported food.

The government is also investigating the integration of AI in satellite imagery, weather prediction systems, and AI-powered agricultural extension services to equip farmers with data that can enhance their productivity. Additionally, the digitization of government services is expected to yield similar economic benefits by eliminating redundant processes and fragmented databases, which limit informed decision-making.

The ministry is establishing a national data exchange hub to connect 48 government data registries, enabling information from various public institutions to be analyzed and used for national planning. This system could eventually enable the Finance Ministry to allocate budgets based on actual development needs rather than political considerations.

The minister disclosed that the government has committed US$270 million towards developing AI infrastructure and financing mechanisms to support its AI ambitions. Of this amount, US$250 million is designated for the initial phase of a national AI compute center, while US$20 million is set aside for an AI fund. The compute center aims to provide the necessary processing infrastructure for analyzing large data volumes and supporting AI applications across different sectors.

The government intends to build a facility capable of exceeding Ghana's immediate needs, positioning the country to offer computing services to other African nations. Furthermore, the proposed AI fund will require additional investments from private-sector entities like banks and insurance companies, with the government considering incentives to encourage their participation.