Promoting the construction of Africa's largest innovation and AI center.

Ghana and the UAE have signed an agreement to invest $1 billion in building Africa's largest innovation and AI center, boosting the region's digital and technological development.

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Africa, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have just signed a strategic investment agreement worth $1 billion to build Africa's largest integrated innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) center in Ningo-Prampram, in the Greater Accra region.

This is considered one of the largest technology investments ever made in Ghana, and marks a new milestone in technology and innovation cooperation between Africa and the Middle East.

The project, scheduled to begin in 2026, aims to expand Ghana's digital capabilities, serving both regional and global markets.

The center will play a pivotal role in promoting AI development, digital infrastructure, and the startup ecosystem, contributing to enhancing Ghana's position as an emerging digital hub in Africa.

Within the framework of the cooperation, Ghana is responsible for providing land and finalizing the supporting policy framework, while the UAE – through the Ports, Customs and Free Trade Area Corporation (PCFC) – will finance and oversee the entire project development process.

The $1 billion investment is divided into three parts. Of that, $400 million is allocated to AI and advanced computing.

Notably, the AI ​​Computing Center developed by G42 Group (UAE), with an investment of $180 million, utilizes renewable energy and liquid cooling technology.

Additionally, $100 million is allocated to building Ghana's national digital identity system based on the Falcon big language model through AI71; the remaining $120 million supports Ghana AI Startup Studio, in collaboration with Hub71, with the goal of attracting and expanding to 100 AI startups by 2030.

The second phase, valued at $350 million, focuses on developing digital infrastructure. This investment package includes $150 million for the deployment of 5G networks in three major urban centers led by e& UAE; $120 million for the construction of a Tier IV mega-data center; and $80 million for the development of an AI-optimized renewable energy system provided by Masdar Digital, along with satellite internet infrastructure serving innovation centers in rural areas.

The third phase, with a scale of $250 million, focuses on innovation, human resource development, and capital mobilization. Specifically, $75 million is allocated to the Ghana-UAE AI and Web3 complex supported by the Dubai Future Fund; $100 million is for the Ghana Startup Fund backed by ADQ and Chimera Capital; and the remaining $75 million is for organizing the annual UAE-Ghana Innovation and AI Summit (GAIX).

According to the plan, this innovation and AI center will support research, application, and outsourcing of AI, data, and machine learning solutions focused on the African market; while attracting the participation of multinational technology corporations such as Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, IBM, and Alphabet. The project also aims to enhance the capacity of local businesses, develop digital skills, and create more high-quality jobs.

The Ghana-UAE agreement reflects a long-term investment trend in technology linked to infrastructure development in Africa, thereby strengthening Ghana's role as a regional digital hub. It is also a significant step in the UAE's strategy to expand its global technological footprint in emerging markets through extensive cooperation in AI, innovation, and skills transfer.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/xuc-tien-xay-dung-trung-tam-doi-moi-va-ai-lon-nhat-chau-phi-post1084130.vnp