Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the “Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub”—a transformative initiative aimed at positioning Ghana as a regional powerhouse for artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
The $1 billion project, fully funded by the UAE’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), will be located on a 25 square kilometre site in Ningo-Prampram, with the government of Ghana providing the land.
The hub is expected to attract over 11,000 global companies, including Microsoft, Oracle, Meta, IBM, and Alphabet, offering a strategic base for AI engineering, business process outsourcing (BPO), and data generation tailored to African markets.
The MoU was signed in Accra on Thursday, May 29, 2025, by Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and the Chairman of Dubai PCFC, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
Speaking at the event, Mr. George described the initiative as a “bold ambition grounded in mutual respect,” and an essential step toward realising President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of an innovation-driven and inclusive economy.
“This hub will create a space where the creativity of Ghana’s youth is matched with opportunity,” he said, adding that it will serve as a key platform for the government’s One Million Coders Programme aimed at training the youth in AI, cybersecurity, and data governance.
Sultan Bin Sulayem, also Chairman and CEO of DP World, highlighted the global shift from manual labour to high-value innovation roles.
“In today’s world, national wealth is defined not by gold or oil but by the ability to generate, implement, and scale ideas,” he said.
Drawing on examples from DP World’s automated port operations in Rotterdam and its footprint in over 70 countries, he explained that Ghana was well-placed to become West Africa’s leading production and distribution hub.
The signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders from both countries, including officials from the UAE’s diplomatic mission and representatives of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
