Digital Geopolitics: Is Ghana’s Digital Sector Crowded with External Partners?  

Isaac Odoom

During my fieldwork in Accra over the summer of 2025, one thing stood out: the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations had become one of the busiest offices in the new Ghanaian government. Almost every week, delegations from foreign governments and technology companies arrived with proposals, partnership offers, and sometimes memoranda of understanding. What seemed like routine visits revealed something deeper. Ghana’s digital space is fast becoming one of the most crowded and contested arenas of external engagement. 

Since January 2025, Ghana has had a new government under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a renamed Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (previously Ministry of Communication and Digitalization), led by Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP). As is common when a new government takes office the ministry has been receiving a steady stream of courtesy calls and visits from foreign delegations, companies, and international organizations. Most of the visits come from digital technology firms and foreign governments, beginning in the early weeks of the new administration  

At one level, these visits are routine. But they also tell us something important: Ghana’s digital sector has become a major focus of external attention. The ministry is now a stage where different global actors try to signal their interest in Ghana’s digital future. In recent months, for example delegations  from different countries including Germany, Italy, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and representatives of Meta Huawei  among others have all made high-profile visits. These are part of a wider pattern of international engagement with Ghana’s new ministry and government. 

One of the most eye-catching announcements came in May, when Ghana and the UAE signed a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding  to establish a “Ghana–UAE Innovations and Technology Hub.” If it moves ahead, the project could bring training, jobs, and infrastructure, and position Ghana as a regional hub for technology. But at this stage, it is only an MoU. Like many such deals, the real test is whether it will be implemented. 

This points to a bigger story: Ghana’s digital space is becoming very crowded, with many outside players competing to shape the country’s digital path. 

Ghana wants to be seen as a leader in West Africa’s digital economy. The government has rolled out a national digital ID, expanded mobile money and fintech, promoted e-government services, and announced plans for smart cities. While these projects highlight the importance of technology in national development, they are also about signaling progress, attracting investment, and strengthening Ghana’s international image. 

Ghana’s Homegrown Efforts 

Ghana is also taking steps to build its own foundations. The One Million Coders Programme  aims to train young people in digital skills. The Ghana Tech Lab,  part of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, provides space and support for start-ups and entrepreneurs. There are also growing investments in STEM education to prepare the workforce for a more digital future. The ministry has also been busy setting up new boards. The National Information Technology Agency  (NITA) now has a governing board tasked with strengthening digital governance, while the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications  (GIFEC) has a new board to help expand connectivity and bridge gaps across the country. The minster also inaugurated a new board for the National Communications Authority  (NCA).  

These efforts are important steps, but they are still early. Much will depend on how consistently they are supported and how well they connect with the larger set of external projects now arriving in Ghana. 

A Crowded Field of Global Players? 

The visits and announcements reflect a bigger trend. Ghana’s digital space is being shaped by a mix of outside players, each bringing different interests. China  has played a major role through Huawei’s telecom projects, StarTimes in broadcasting, and other Digital Silk Road initiatives. Western governments and companies are also active. Google  opened its first African AI research center in Accra, Mastercard is pushing digital finance , and the EU seeks to promote rules for data protection and cybersecurity. The UAE is perhaps the newest entrant, now expanding into the digital economy after years of focusing on aviation and ports. This means the story is no longer just “China versus the West.” Ghana is now navigating a far more mixed group of players, often with overlapping or competing agendas. 

The Promise and the Potential Pitfalls 

Agreements like the Ghana–UAE hub highlight both the opportunities and the risks. On paper, they bring promises of jobs, training, and visibility. Politically, they allow the government to show that Ghana is an attractive destination for investment. 

But history shows that many big announcements never move beyond the MoU stage. Others are launched but remain disconnected from Ghana’s broader digital plans. Too many overlapping projects can create duplication or systems that do not fit together. The outcome often looks less like a grand strategy and more like a patchwork of separate initiatives. 

This raises the key question: is Ghana going to use this global interest to build a long-term digital future, or are outside players setting the agenda? 

The government is inviting different partners and trying to use the competition to secure resources and attention. In that sense, Ghana is trying to shape the process. But its ability to steer may be limited. Most of the funding still comes from abroad. This will make it hard for Ghana to set the pace or direction fully. The challenge is how to make sure these many projects, partners, and promises actually serve Ghana’s own priorities. 

The steady stream of visits to Ghana’s new digital ministry captures both the opportunity and the uncertainty of this moment. On the one hand, it shows how important Ghana has become as a digital player in West Africa. On the other, it highlights the risk of piling up announcements, boards, and MoUs without enough follow-through. 

For those watching Africa–China relations, Ghana’s case is telling. China remains central, but it is not alone (it has never been alone). The digital sector is now becoming ‘crowded’ space where Chinese firms, Western companies, Gulf states, and African governments all intersect. The real test will be whether Ghana can turn this attention into meaningful and lasting change; or whether it will end up with more promises on paper than results on the ground.