In a bold step toward transforming public service through innovation, the Government of Ghana has launched a pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp designed to equip Cabinet Ministers and key government officials with the strategic understanding to harness AI in national development.
The three-day high-level training, which opened yesterday in Accra, is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative marks a significant national milestone as Ghana positions itself at the forefront of Africa’s digital revolution.
Leading the charge was the sector minister, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, who stressed the urgency for Ghana to embrace AI as a national imperative. He noted that the application of AI across sectors could revolutionize governance, improve public service delivery, and enhance national security.
“We must begin to incorporate artificial intelligence in strategic institutions, including our foreign missions, to strengthen data analysis and improve screening processes,” Hon. George stated. “AI must no longer be seen as a futuristic concept—it is here, and Ghana must lead in its integration.”
The Bootcamp brings together Ministers, Ministers of State, and AI focal persons from all ministries to co-develop practical, AI-driven solutions tailored to their operational mandates. Each ministry is expected to leave the training with concrete AI use cases and a roadmap for implementation, which will become part of their performance indicators moving forward.
According to the Minister, the goal is not to turn policymakers into programmers but to ensure they possess the knowledge and vision to drive policy decisions in an era of rapid technological advancement.
He cited examples such as the Ministry of Health potentially establishing a national health intelligence hub that uses AI to track and predict outbreaks of communicable diseases—a real-time solution that can reshape how healthcare is delivered.
The Bootcamp enjoys the full support of the Presidency. President John Dramani Mahama has directed that AI deployment be treated as a government-wide agenda, not limited to a single ministry.
“The President was unequivocal—this must be a cross-sectoral drive,” Hon. George said. “Every Ministry must understand and incorporate AI in its core functions.”
Officially opening the session, Chief of Staff Hon. Julius Debrah underscored the administration’s commitment to modern governance, announcing that the AI initiatives developed during the Bootcamp would be formally adopted as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all Ministries.
By the end of the three-day programme, participating Ministries are expected to submit actionable implementation plans, with technical support from the Ministry of Communication and oversight from the UNDP.
As Ghana embraces this digital transition, the AI Bootcamp signals a new era of intelligent governance—one that blends innovation with accountability to build a smarter, more resilient nation.
