At the 2025 UNESCO Digital Learning Week, the launch of the country’s much-anticipated National AI Strategy officially announced by Ghana’s Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, .
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The bold initiative aims to train one million Ghanaian youth in artificial intelligence (AI) and develop ten thousand AI researchers by 2033, solidifying Ghana’s position at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation.
A Strategic Vision for AI-Driven Education
Since 2019, Ghana has steadily integrated AI into its educational frameworks—bringing AI into the national curriculum and enhancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs from primary through tertiary levels. Minister Iddrisu reaffirmed this trajectory during his address in Paris:
“We are committed to embedding AI into our classrooms and ensuring every young Ghanaian can benefit from the opportunities AI presents.”
At the UNESCO event, Hon. Iddrisu emphasized that the new strategy will significantly scale up existing efforts, enabling Ghana to train large cohorts of AI-capable individuals and prepare a cadre of researchers who will drive innovation locally and globally.
Empowering the Next Generation
The National AI Strategy centers on two main targets:
- Training one million youth in AI by 2033
- Cultivating ten thousand AI researchers across various specializations
These goals are grounded in building a robust AI-ready workforce prepared to tackle challenges across sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. The strategy also seeks to bridge gender and geographic gaps through inclusive training programs, ensuring outreach to young women and underrepresented communities.
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Laying the Foundation with AI-Embedded Curriculum
Since 2019, Ghana has woven AI modules into the national curriculum via its Standards-Based Curriculum. Students from primary four to senior high school have been exposed to basic AI concepts, computational thinking, programming, algorithms, and robotics—all aimed at building foundational skills and sparking interest in digital innovations.
What Sets the 2025 AI Strategy Apart
The newly launched strategy marks a turning point—moving from limited curriculum inclusion to nationwide scale-up efforts. The plan includes:
- Expanding AI training centers and digital infrastructure
- Partnering with universities and innovation hubs for research
- Creating inclusive and hands-on learning environments
- Strengthening governance around data, ethics, and AI deployment
UNESCO’s platform provided the perfect stage to announce Ghana’s next move in digital education. Minister Iddrisu’s announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to a future where AI plays a central role in national development.
Broader Context: Ghana’s Digital Education Transformation
Ghana’s AI strategy is part of a larger education transformation agenda. The government has previously committed to strengthening technical and vocational education (TVET), embedding coding, robotics, and electronics from the kindergarten level, and rolling out digital literacy programs across all levels of schooling.
This integrated approach ensures that AI is not taught in isolation, but as part of a holistic digital education ecosystem—aligned with efforts to empower youth, foster entrepreneurship, and build future-focused job skills.
Ghana’s National AI Strategy positions the country to become an AI innovation hub in Africa. By focusing on human capacity development, ethical governance, and inclusive implementation, Ghana is crafting a digital roadmap that can serve as a model for the region.
The strategic emphasis on training a million youth and nurturing researchers underscores a long-term vision: one where technological tools empower citizens, and innovative minds drive societal progress.
As Ghana embarks on this decade-long journey toward an AI-powered society, the success of this strategy will depend on effective implementation, stakeholder collaboration, and access to resources—both technical and financial. But with a clear vision and growing foundations, Ghana stands ready to lead Africa into a new era of innovation.
