Ghana, UAE Sign $1Billion MoU to Establish AI and Innovation Hub in Ningo-Prampram
Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a $1 billion technology and innovations hub aimed at driving Ghana’s digital transformation and positioning the country as a continental leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
The agreement, signed in Accra on Thursday, May 29, 2025, will see the development of the “Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub”—a collaborative initiative led by the UAE’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC). The project is expected to serve as a strategic base for global tech giants seeking to expand into Ghana and the wider African market.
Fully funded by the PCFC in partnership with leading AI firms from Dubai, the initial phase of the project involves the development of a 25 square kilometre site in Ningo-Prampram. The Government of Ghana is providing the land for the project.
The MoU was signed by the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Dubai PCFC, on behalf of the UAE. The signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including heads of agencies under the Ministry, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of the UAE mission in Ghana.
A Hub for Africa’s Digital Future
According to officials, the hub will host more than 11,000 companies operating under the PCFC, including global technology firms such as Microsoft, Oracle, Meta, IBM, and Alphabet. It will serve as a regional base for AI engineering, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and the generation of African data for machine learning applications.
Speaking at the signing, Minister Samuel George said the agreement represents “a bold ambition grounded in mutual respect and a shared understanding that digital transformation is no longer optional but essential.”
“This hub will create a space where investment meets ingenuity, where the creativity of Ghana’s youth is matched with opportunity,” Mr George stated. “It is about building a nation where our brightest minds no longer look outwards for opportunity, but see it in their own backyards.”
He noted that the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision of diversifying the economy through innovation-led and inclusive development.
The Ningo-Prampram legislator added that the project will amplify the government’s One Million Coders Programme, which aims to equip Ghanaian youth with critical skills in AI, cybersecurity, data protection, and governance.
“To Ghana’s vibrant community of tech entrepreneurs, innovators, and digital talents—this is your platform,” Mr George said. “We are creating the conditions for a digital renaissance, led by Ghanaians for Ghanaians.”
Ghana as a Strategic Tech and Trade Hub
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, also Chairman and CEO of DP World, underscored the significance of the initiative, describing innovation and intellectual capital as the new currency of national wealth.
“In today’s world, national wealth is defined not by gold or oil but by the ability to generate, implement, and scale ideas,” he noted, drawing parallels with the rise of global tech companies like Apple.
Highlighting the rapid shift towards automation and AI, Mr Bin Sulayem emphasized that jobs are evolving, not disappearing. He cited DP World’s fully automated port in Rotterdam and its global logistics operations across 70 countries as examples of how workers are now managing smarter processes and complex customer relationships.
With global supply chains becoming increasingly localized, Mr Bin Sulayem said Ghana is strategically positioned to become a major production and distribution hub for West Africa.
The Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub is expected to catalyse digital entrepreneurship, attract foreign direct investment, and transform Ghana into a nerve centre for Africa’s technology ecosystem.
