Ghana will introduce artificial intelligence (AI), coding, robotics and electronics into the basic school curriculum before the end of 2026, as the government moves to build digital skills from the ground up as part of its newly launched National AI Strategy. 

President John Dramani Mahama, who officially launched the strategy in Accra on Friday, April 24, directed the Curriculum Review Committee of the Ministry of  Education to complete its work by the end of June to allow the new subjects to roll out before the close of the academic year. The directive signals that Ghana’s AI ambitions are not confined to research institutions and corporate boardrooms but are intended to reach the classroom at the earliest stage of formal education.

Alongside the school curriculum reform, the government’s One Million Coders Programme is set to train 300,000 Ghanaians this year in digital and AI skills, as part of a broader effort to build a workforce capable of competing in a rapidly shifting global economy.

The President stressed that no Ghanaian, including those in the informal sector and persons living with disabilities, should be excluded as the country embraces artificial intelligence, with innovation hubs to be encouraged beyond Accra and universities supported to lead advanced research. 

MachineLearning & Artificial Intelligence

A dedicated Responsible AI Office is proposed under the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations to ensure effective coordination across ministries, while a National AI Fund will be created to provide sustainable financing for research, innovation and long-term implementation.

The strategy, which spans a decade, targets seven priority sectors including healthcare, agriculture, financial services and energy. Ghana currently ranks 72nd globally and 6th in Africa in the Global AI Index 2025, behind Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Tunisia, with the ranking reflecting development across talent, research and infrastructure. The strategy is designed to close that gap by building domestic capacity rather than importing ready-made systems.

At the launch, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George introduced “Aku,” an interactive AI assistant built to demonstrate local-language deployment, capable of responding in English, Ga, Twi, Dagbani, Ewe and Gonja. A kente-clad robot delivered the first copy of the strategy document directly to the President, drawing applause from the audience as a demonstration of the direction Ghana is taking. 

Minister George linked Ghana’s AI ambitions directly to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, headquartered in Accra, arguing that AI will be central to driving digital trade and inclusive growth across the continent. An Emerging Technologies Bill is being developed to provide the legal framework for AI regulation and governance.

Ghana’s AI market is projected to contribute up to $20 billion to the economy over the next decade if the strategy’s implementation targets are achieved.