Ghana has sealed a transformative $1 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop a cutting-edge technology and innovation hub in Ningo-Prampram, located in the Greater Accra Region. This landmark deal signals Ghana’s ambitions to become a leading digital economy and tech destination in Africa.

The agreement, formalized by Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), reflects months of diplomatic and strategic engagement between both nations.

Historic Digital Partnership to Drive Growth

Announcing the agreement, Minister George highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative in advancing Ghana’s digital economy. He emphasized that the deal would serve as a springboard for global information and communication technology (ICT) giants to establish their African headquarters in Ghana.

“After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, we have successfully secured a $1 billion Innovation Hub deal with the UAE,” George stated. “This hub will host global tech firms and serve as a base for transformative digital operations across Africa.”

He linked the initiative to President John Dramani Mahama’s broader digital vision, noting that it aligns seamlessly with the national One Million Coders Programme — a major skills development strategy designed to train one million young Ghanaians in high-demand digital disciplines such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection, and governance.

Project Details: A Smart City in the Making

The Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub will span an initial 25 square kilometres in the Ningo-Prampram district. While the Government of Ghana is providing the land, all funding responsibilities fall under the UAE’s PCFC, reflecting a strong vote of confidence in Ghana’s potential as a digital leader.

The facility is poised to become a nerve centre for artificial intelligence engineering, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and machine learning data infrastructure. The hub will also be geared toward innovation incubation, serving both multinational corporations and local startups.

More than 11,000 firms under the PCFC umbrella—including tech giants such as Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), Oracle, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and IBM—are expected to explore opportunities within the hub, potentially positioning Ghana as a dominant force in West Africa’s innovation landscape.

Ghana’s Vision: From Participation to Leadership in the Digital Age

According to Minister George, the hub symbolizes Ghana’s intent not just to join the digital revolution but to shape it.

“This is an open invitation to our community of tech entrepreneurs, software developers, and digital thinkers,” George said. “Your ideas, research, and startup initiatives will breathe life into this hub. We are no longer chasing the future; we are defining it.”

He reaffirmed that the government is laying down the infrastructure and policies needed to support a Ghana-led digital renaissance, catalyzing job creation, technological research, and the rise of homegrown tech companies.

UAE’s Perspective: Redefining Wealth in the Knowledge Economy

In his remarks, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem emphasized that wealth in the modern world is increasingly defined by the power to innovate, not by traditional natural resources.

“Today, economic strength is measured by the ability to generate and scale ideas,” he said. “Just as Apple turned a simple idea into a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise, Ghana has the potential to become Africa’s epicentre for digital innovation.”

Drawing on Dubai’s global footprint, including its fully automated port in Rotterdam and commercial presence in over 70 countries, Sulayem shared insights on how automation is reshaping—not eliminating—jobs. Workers, he noted, are increasingly managing intelligent systems and customer relationships rather than performing repetitive tasks.

He added that shifting global supply chains now favour local manufacturing closer to consumer markets, which presents Ghana with an ideal opportunity to evolve into a regional production and logistics hub for the continent.

Strategic Implications for Africa’s Tech Landscape

This monumental partnership comes as African nations race to unlock the immense opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and advanced technologies. Ghana’s bold step is particularly significant amid increased interest from global tech corporations in African talent and markets.

Neighboring Nigeria, for instance, has also made major strides in AI development. In April, the Nigerian government launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aimed at enhancing AI infrastructure, ethics, and applications. This move has already attracted international support: Google pledged ₦2.8 billion to build AI talent in Nigeria, while Microsoft committed $1 million to train one million Nigerians in AI skills.

Additionally, Nigeria’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) recently received a ₦100 million boost from Google’s AI Fund.

Challenges Ahead: Infrastructure and Policy Gaps

Despite these efforts across the continent, experts warn that many African countries still lack the foundational infrastructure to fully capitalize on the digital revolution. Challenges such as inadequate internet connectivity, unreliable electricity supply, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks continue to pose significant hurdles.

Ghana’s new tech hub, however, seeks to directly address some of these issues by creating a self-sustaining digital ecosystem with reliable infrastructure and support services tailored to high-tech industries.

What This Means for Ghana and the Region

The launch of the Ghana-UAE Innovation and Technology Hub marks a defining moment in Ghana’s digital evolution. If successfully executed, the project will:

• Create thousands of high-value tech jobs for Ghanaians in AI, software development, data science, and digital services.

• Attract global investments and multinational technology firms looking to expand their footprint in Africa.

• Enhance Ghana’s reputation as a digital pioneer and preferred tech destination on the continent.

• Boost national GDP through ICT exports, innovation, and business process outsourcing.

• Drive educational reform, as institutions align curricula with digital demands to supply skilled talent.

Final Thoughts: A Model for Africa?

Ghana’s partnership with the UAE may well become a template for how African nations can harness international alliances to build robust digital economies. With strong leadership, strategic vision, and sustained investment, Ghana is poised to not only participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution but also lead parts of it.

As the innovation hub breaks ground, all eyes will be on Ningo-Prampram to see how Ghana transforms ambition into impact—ushering in a new era of tech-led prosperity for the nation and the region.