By Joseph Agrace Wiyorbie
Wa, (UW/R), Nov. 4, GNA – The Upper West Region has marked the 2025 Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) with a call for prioritisation of local innovation to drive sustainable national development.
The event, held on the theme: “Catalysing for change-Emerging Technologies at the Forefront of Innovation and Digital Transformation”, aimed to empower individuals and institutions to harness digital tools for national progress.
The event brought together innovators, digital entrepreneurs, start-ups, policymakers, development partners and key ecosystem players to explore how creativity, technology and entrepreneurship were driving Ghana’s digital transformation and fostering inclusive growth.
Mr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, the Chairperson of the Ghana Hubs Network, emphasised the urgent need to translate innovations into tangible outcomes that would benefit society.
He noted that since the inception of GDIW in 2021, it had significantly served as a beacon of collaboration, reflection and renewal in Ghana’s innovation landscape.
He explained that the 2025 theme for the GDIW signalled advancement in the technology ecosystem, one that transcends ideas to focus on systems, jobs and impact.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi, who also represented the GDIW Consortium at the event, stressed that the consortium was committed to building a digitally inclusive and innovation-driven Ghana through policy advocacy, investment readiness, and amplifying innovation from communities across the country.
The Consortium comprised Ghana Hubs Network, Impact Investing Ghana, and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NEIP).
“The Ghana Digital and Innovation Week remains a strategic platform for unlocking the potential of digital technology in achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development”, Mr Adu-Gyamfi said.
Mr Sumaila Chakurah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Noni Hubs (CEO), indicted that the GDIW celebration was a testament to what could be achieved through effective collaboration between the government, private sector, academia and civil society.
“It is important to showcase the credible ideas emerging from our region, ideas that can shape industries, create jobs, and build a more sustainable and inclusive future,” he said.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Region Minister, observed that the theme for the 2025 GDIW celebration was timely as Ghana positioned herself to harness the immense potential of technology in shaping the economic, social, and human development agenda.
He said digital innovation was no longer a luxury, but a necessity in the 21st century defined by rapid technological progress, transforming people’s lives and livelihoods.
He mentioned technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), block-chain, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) as new frontiers of opportunities, especially for young people.
He said: “The future of our economy depends on how well we equip our young people with digital skills, innovation thinking, and entrepreneurial courage.
“As a region, we must therefore invest in building innovation hubs, supporting local startups, and strengthening our partnership with development organisations.”
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah