Sam George announces national data exchange hub to connect 48 public registries
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced plans to establish a national data exchange hub to connect 48 public data registries and enable seamless information sharing across government institutions.
Samuel Nartey George, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has unveiled plans to create a national data exchange hub to link 48 public data registries, aiming to streamline information sharing among government agencies. The initiative seeks to eliminate the need for developers and businesses to individually connect with each public institution to access data, enhancing data classification and interoperability across the nation.
Addressing the Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy on JoyNews, Mr. George outlined that the proposed hub would serve as a centralized backbone for these public data registries, which include entities like the Ghana Health Service, National Identification Authority, and Ghana Statistical Service. He explained that currently, entities needing information from multiple institutions must establish separate connections with each registry, often necessitating Hubtel, a company, to set up connections with all 48 registries for data requests.
The hub, according to the Minister, will enable developers to submit a single request to access data from multiple sources, including the National Identification Authority, Ghana Statistical Service, Births and Deaths Registry, and Ghana Police Service. To ensure uniformity, the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) will introduce standards for data classification and organization, addressing inconsistencies in data handling through a unified framework.
The Minister emphasized that the initiative would not compel public institutions to relinquish control over their databases, allowing them to maintain ownership while providing a single point of querying for developers. The initial phase will focus on public data registries, with potential expansion to include private sector participation, though private companies would need to contribute data to access government-controlled data.
Mr. George views the data exchange hub as a step towards improving data interoperability and fostering a more interconnected digital ecosystem in Ghana, with potential benefits for businesses, public service delivery, and AI development.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
