Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), assuring the United Nations of ongoing efforts to modernise and strengthen legislation governing the country’s digital economy.
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, gave the assurance while addressing the United Nations General Assembly during the high-level World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) review.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, the Minister highlighted the country’s progress in digital transformation, noting that Ghana remains committed to building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society, in line with the vision established by the WSIS process two decades ago.
Mr. George said Ghana has implemented a comprehensive national digitalisation agenda, guided by the WSIS action lines, with significant investments in fibre-optic infrastructure, expanded 4G coverage and the deployment of rural telephony sites to extend connectivity to previously unserved communities.
According to him, these interventions underscore Ghana’s belief that universal access to digital services is fundamental to sustainable development.
He further outlined advancements in digital public infrastructure, including the Ghana.gov platform, the Ghana Electronic Procurement System, the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System, the National Health Information Exchange and the Ghana Health Information Management System.
He said these platforms have enhanced efficiency, transparency and equitable access to public services.
On digital security, the Minister noted that Ghana has strengthened its cybersecurity and data protection frameworks and operationalised national and sector-specific computer emergency response teams to build trust within the digital ecosystem.
He disclosed that the country has adopted a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to guide the ethical and responsible deployment of AI across government, while also developing frameworks to address misinformation and disinformation without undermining freedom of expression online.
Mr. George said digital inclusion remains a central pillar of Ghana’s digital agenda, citing nationwide digital literacy campaigns, community information centres, the One Million Coders programme and the Girls in ICT initiative as key interventions aimed at empowering women, youth and underserved communities.
As the global community prepares for the next phase of the WSIS process, the Minister called for stronger international cooperation, stressing the need for universal connectivity, robust digital public infrastructure, equitable AI governance and increased capacity-building support for developing countries.
He concluded by stating that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana is ready to collaborate with member states, the private sector, civil society and development partners to build an inclusive, secure and sustainable digital future aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Source: www.kumasimail.com
