Communications Minister: Ghana Chat Will Protect Sensitive Government Data

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The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Honourable Samuel Nartey George has outlined plans to develop Ghana Chat, a national artificial intelligence model to mitigate the national security risks of feeding sensitive government data into foreign AI platforms.

The Ningo Prampram MP explained that the initiative is among the foundational projects being pursued to develop Ghana’s AI infrastructure.

“We’re building what we call the Ghana Chat, which becomes our own national language processing model that allows for governments to interface on our own and build our own capacity. It is absolutely built by Ghanaians and effected with Ghanaian data.”

Honourable Nartey explained that the proposed model is intended to give government institutions access to AI computing capabilities while supporting the development of domestic expertise. He indicated that procurement processes involving the Public Procurement Authority are underway to secure the data centre, computing infrastructure and other components required for the project.

The Minister identified the handling of classified government information as “a critical national risk” in the country’s adoption of artificial intelligence. He cautioned that officials who submit official documents to commercial AI platforms could expose sensitive information, especially confidential memoranda and other government materials to risks that require careful national attention.

He also linked the project to Ghana’s data residency framework, explaining that legislation alone cannot achieve its purpose if public institutions continue relying on external AI systems to process government information. In his view, developing domestic computing capacity would help reconcile the advantages of AI with the state’s responsibility to protect sensitive information.

However, the Minister acknowledged that Ghana Chat would initially face limitations compared with established platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude. He explained that advanced AI systems have undergone extensive training using enormous datasets, making sustained development and improvement necessary for Ghana’s own model.

The government’s immediate objective is to establish the infrastructure required for researchers, universities and industry players to access computing resources locally. According to Honourable Nartey, the first phase is expected to be completed within 24 months.

He cautioned against expecting the country to resolve every AI-related challenge within that period, describing the project as an initial step in a longer national undertaking. The emphasis is on establishing the essential capacity needed to place Ghana on a sustainable path towards artificial intelligence development.

Directing attention to the Jobs Infrastructure within the AI Economy, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation outlined the importance of workforce adaptation, accessible public data, and regulatory reforms as Ghana prepares for the economic changes associated with artificial intelligence.

Honourable Samuel Nartey George explained that technology adoption must be accompanied by practical measures to improve data access and strengthen institutional accountability, while workers acquire the skills needed to remain relevant in changing workplaces.

“Those who evolve and adapt will survive. Those who fail to evolve and adapt will fall off. That’s the hard reality of artificial intelligence.”

Honourable Nartey illustrated the employment implications of technological change through the experience of an aunt who worked as a stenographer in the public service. He recounted how workplaces transitioned from manual typewriters to electronic typewriters and computers, requiring employees to learn new systems to remain effective in their roles.

He used the example to demonstrate that technological progress can change the skills required for employment. Consequently, workers and institutions must prepare for shifts in professional practices as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into economic activity.

Beyond employment, the Minister identified fragmented public data systems as another challenge facing businesses and developers. He explained that Ghana has approximately 48 public data registries, including the Ghana Health Service, National Identification Authority and Ghana Statistical Service, which operate without seamless connections.

To address this problem, the ministry is developing a data exchange hub that would allow developers to submit a single request for information held across participating registries. The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) is expected to establish common data classification standards to improve consistency across the system.

While the initial framework will focus on public registries, private companies could participate voluntarily. Under the proposed arrangement, private sector organisations seeking access to government-held data would need to contribute their own information to the shared ecosystem.

The Minister also outlined regulatory measures intended to strengthen institutional responsibility for data protection and cybersecurity. He indicated that government agencies without certified data protection officers and certified chief information security officers would face regulatory fines from the following year.

He further identified legislative reviews involving cybersecurity, data protection and NITA as part of efforts to address weaknesses in the country’s digital governance framework.

These measures are intended to support a digital economy in which technological innovation is accompanied by accessible information, stronger institutional safeguards and a workforce capable of adapting to changing demands.

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