The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP) has called for a new era of strategic partnership between Ghana and China, highlighting four critical areas for collaboration at the Ghana–China Business Summit themed “THE BIG PUSH” at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra on Friday, the 27th of June 2025.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister outlined fiber optics, cloud computing, satellite broadband, and cybersecurity as the some critical pillars for future cooperation.
He emphasized Ghana’s commitment to expanding its fiber optic network nationwide and expressed readiness to partner with Chinese firms capable of delivering large-scale, affordable infrastructure, “We will collaborate with strategic partners who have the capacity to roll out fibre cables across the country, terrestrial and aerial fibre at scale and at speed, but most importantly at affordable pricing,” he stated.
On cloud computing, the Minister revealed plans to expand the “G-Cloud,” Ghana’s sovereign cloud platform, to enhance services for government, financial institutions, and educational bodies.
He invited Chinese experts to help scale up the country’s cloud capacity and reinforce data sovereignty.
On Cybersecurity, he advocated for a shift from reactive to preventive security strategies, calling for partnerships that would provide Ghana with cutting-edge tools and technology to bolster digital trust and resilience.
Smart Cities and Digital Innovation
The Hon. Minister used the summit to also spotlight Ghana’s Smart Cities Plan, which aims to integrate technology into urban development. Key initiatives include smart electric and water meters, digital transportation systems, and intelligent lighting and security infrastructure, stressing that, smart city development was about rapid industrialization and turning the existing cities into smart cities and not just building new ones.
According to him, Ghana was also finalizing the Innovations and Startups Bill to provide legal certainty and financial incentives for innovation-driven enterprises.M, adding, Policy hackathons and co-creation platforms are being used to foster collaboration between government, startups, and the private sector.
Touching on the 24-Hour Economy policy, Hon. Nartey George said Ghana was charting an ambitious path toward a 24-hour economy, leveraging technology, reliable energy, and efficient logistics to ensure that productivity is no longer limited by the clock.
“At the heart of this transformation are digital platforms that enable round-the-clock economic activities, e-commerce systems that operate seamlessly across time zones, mobile money and digital payment networks that remain active 24-7 and digitized sports and customs platforms that support continuous trade flows across our country. This can improve our business. So this is where digital innovation intersects with industrialization and where Ghana China Corporation can be fully transformative.” He emphasized.
Technology Diplomacy and Regional Leadership
Hon. Nartey George positioned Ghana as the “gateway to Africa,” encouraging Chinese and international investors to use Ghana as a launchpad for the wider continent.
He highlighted Ghana’s growing influence in setting standards for technology and innovation across West Africa and promoted the concept of “technology diplomacy,” whereby Ghana exports its technology solutions to neighboring countries.
Digital Trade and Data Sovereignty
The Minister addressed the importance of digital platforms for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), advocating for integrated solutions in logistics, payments, and trade facilitation.
He cautioned, however, that as digital trade expands, countries must prioritize data sovereignty and establish robust data governance frameworks to protect national security.
The Minister invited all technology companies attending the event to submit proposals for partnership, stating that “If it makes sense for both Ghana and China, we will explore it,” he assured, underscoring the government’s openness to mutually beneficial collaborations.
Changfeng Digital Intelligence and Egatee were among some Chinese companies who pitched for collaboration in areas like Fintech, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Smart IoT, Data Protection, Transportation, health , Smart cities and other sectors of the economy.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
