- Israeli Ambassador Calls for B2B Tech Partnerships as Ghana Pursues Digital Ambitions
As Ghana embarks on an ambitious journey to become a digital economy in West Africa, through initiatives like the One Million Coders programme, the Israeli Ambassador in Accra, H.E. Mr Roey Gilad, is quietly watching, weighing how the startup energy of Tel Aviv can connect with Accra’s growing appetite for innovation.
In an open conversation with NorvanReports, Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana acknowledged both the potential for deeper technology collaboration and the limits imposed by Israel’s own evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.
“We follow very closely the One Million Coders initiative launched by President Mahama,” the Ambassador remarked. “It’s an ambitious and visionary programme that, if executed well, can position Ghana as a regional digital powerhouse. It’s something Israel did 20 years ago; we’ve walked that road.”
The Ambassador drew a parallel between Ghana’s current digital aspirations and Israel’s own evolution, from a desert-based agricultural society to one of the most dynamic high-tech hubs in the world.
Citing the now-famous military Unit 8200, often described as Israel’s Silicon Valley in uniform, he emphasised how a disciplined pipeline of technical talent transformed Israel’s economic destiny.
“Israel didn’t get here by accident. It started in the military, in intelligence units, and flowed into private innovation. It was not a top-down government miracle; it was a bottom-up, business-driven revolution,” he said.
In this context, he argued, should inform Ghana’s approach. Government initiatives like One Million Coders are important, but long-term success will depend on business-to-business (B2B) linkages, not just government-to-government (G2G) programmes.
With striking honesty, the Ambassador, H.E. Mr Roey Gilad, tempered expectations around what Israel can realistically offer Ghana in the short term.
“Let me be clear, Israel is not a global superpower. We may be a regional one, but we don’t play in the league of the US or China. And with the current war, our resources and priorities have shifted. We could not make miracles before October 7th, let alone now.”
Still, even amid resource constraints, Israel’s private sector remains active in Ghana’s tech space. The Ambassador noted that two Israeli firms are already delivering digital solutions locally. He also pointed to Israel’s international cybersecurity summits, which Ghanaian delegations are increasingly attending.
“The Ghanaian delegation that came to the cybersecurity summit in March was one of the largest in the world. Another is coming this June, and it includes some top officials,” he revealed.
NorvanReports pressed further asking whether the Israeli government would encourage its firms to go beyond conferences and contracts and enter into joint ventures, equity partnerships, or R&D collaborations with Ghanaian firms?
H.E. Mr. Roey Gilad didn’t hesitate, “There’s a shortage of coders in Israel. If Ghana proves its coding talent through initiatives like One Million Coders, there’s a real business case for Israeli companies to outsource or set up development partnerships here,” he stated.
But the elephant in the room is distance: “It’s a 14-hour journey from Tel Aviv to Accra, and that’s without a direct flight. That’s a logistical challenge; businesspeople don’t like changing planes. Still, they do it for the US, so it’s not insurmountable,” he added.
For Ghana to unlock the full benefit of this potential partnership, the Ambassador believes the ball is in Ghana’s court.
“We bring initiatives like One Million Coders to the attention of Israeli companies. But they have to see business value. Ghanaian startups, entrepreneurs, and government agencies must create that opportunity. We cannot force it,” H.E. Mr Roey Gilad told NorvanReports
He emphasised that, unlike the agriculture sector, where development is often government-led, technology, fintech, and cybersecurity are fundamentally private-sector driven. “Digital development is not about aid. It’s about alignment. Israel can open doors, but Ghana must walk through them,” he stressed.
Despite the war at home and the miles between the two countries, the Israeli Ambassador’s tone remained one of cautious optimism. The merging of Ghana’s youthful population, growing tech ambitions and Israel’s global reputation for innovation presents a window of opportunity.
“Cybersecurity is already a breakout sector for Ghana. More interest is coming than I expected. If the energy behind initiatives like One Million Coders is sustained, I truly believe Ghana can become a continental hub for digital innovation,” he concluded.
As Ghana navigates its digital future, Israel’s experience offers more than inspiration; it offers a framework. But as the Ambassador makes clear, in this partnership, there will be no handouts, only handshakes.
Editor’s Note:
This article is part of NorvanReports’ ongoing coverage of Ghana’s digital transformation strategy and international technology partnerships. For more in-depth reporting, visit www.norvanreports.com.
