News
Ghana’s Digital Future: Hope for Africa’s Digital Identity & Sovereignty
Ghana stands at a defining moment in its national journey—one shaped not by gold or cocoa, but by innovation, creativity, enterprise, and connection. Under the renewed leadership of H.E President John Dramani Mahama and the dynamism of Hon. Sam George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology & Innovations, the nation is stepping confidently into the future.
The launch of the 1 Million Coders Initiative is a powerful declaration of intent: to equip one million Ghanaian youth with digital skills and digital literacy, preparing them for high- demand roles in the global digital economy. This initiative is not simply about training—it is about transformation. It seeks to close the digital divide, democratize opportunity, and future-proof Ghana’s workforce.
Equally visionary is the recently announced $1 billion technology hub, a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This groundbreaking collaboration marks one of the most significant foreign direct investments in Ghana’s technology sector. It promises to create jobs, drive innovation, and make Ghana a regional leader in tech infrastructure, digital entrepreneurship, and advanced skills development.
This hub is more than brick and mortar—it is a symbol of what is possible when leadership is visionary, bold and strategic. The hub lends credence to policy coherence and complementarity required to achieve our digital transformation agenda.
The hub will serve as a launchpad for startups, an incubator for ideas, and a magnet for international investors looking to engage with Africa’s rising digital ecosystem. So if one is wondering where the 1 million Ghanaians to be trained and equipped with digital skills will end up, there you have it.
In this new age of digital colonialism, Africa’s digital identity and sovereignty is the heartbeat of the continent’s development, innovation and independence. Africa’s digital sovereignty is crucial to its development.
From critical infrastructure ownership to control over data, Africa must be in a position to govern its digital space without let or hinderance.The continent cannot realise its single market objective under the Africa Continental Free Trade initiative under the current digital colonization. And this is why President Mahama’s Reset Agenda in the digital space is highly commendable.
Firstly, realignment of the Communications ministry to foster innovation and secondly taking bold and creative initiatives like the 1 million coders (digital skills) program and the $1Billion tech hub to host
Africa’s biggest innovation hub are second to none.
In President Mahama and Minister Sam George, Ghana has leaders who recognize that the next wave of prosperity will be built not on extraction, but on innovation. Their policies are laying the foundation for a resilient, tech-driven economy—one that is inclusive, competitive, and future-ready. We cannot realise our digital sovereignty without digital skills and tools and the necessary infrastructure.
I commend the bold vision of H.E President Mahama and celebrate the efforts of Hon. Sam George in the realisation of the vision. I urge all stakeholders—public and private, local and global—to support this transformative journey. The realisation of the continent’s digital identity and sovereignty is here!
Thank you, President John Dramani Mahama
By George Spencer Quaye,
News
Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Hot!
Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
