The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, at the fourth edition of the Females in Tech (FEMITECH) Conference, called for a structural reset of Ghana's digital agenda, urging a shift from consumption to production as the country positions itself for economic sovereignty in the Intelligence Age.
Delivering the keynote address at the FEMITECH 2026 Conference, Sam George outlined the government’s vision for a digitally empowered Ghana where technology translates directly into jobs, enterprise growth, and expanded exports.
Speaking at the event, which took place in the auditorium at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), Sam George described the conference theme, ‘Give to Gain’, as a reflection of the economic philosophy underpinning the current government’s approach to innovation.
"In this new era, value is multiplied while knowledge is shared and scaled. To gain and benefit from innovation, we must be strategic to orchestrate it," he stated.
He emphasised that under President Mahama's leadership, Ghana is undergoing a deliberate digital reset, which he characterised as a "structural transformation," moving the nation "from digital consumption to digital production, from participation to leadership, from dependency to sovereignty."
Women at the Center of Digital Transformation
He devoted significant attention to the role of women in technology, framing inclusion not as symbolism, but as a core strategy for national competitiveness.
"When women are given access to capital, they build resilient enterprises. When women are given digital tools, they unlock productivity across families and communities. When women are given platforms to innovate, entire economies gain stability and growth," he said.
He highlighted ongoing initiatives through GI-KACE, including SME digitisation frameworks, incubation and acceleration pathways, and the integration of artificial intelligence into enterprise processes to enhance export readiness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A Warning on the Global Race for AI and Data Sovereignty
The Minister also issued a stark warning about the pace of global technological change, stressing that the world is not waiting for Ghana.
He noted that artificial intelligence is redefining productivity, automation is reshaping manufacturing, and data governance now determines national sovereignty.
"If Ghana simply downloads global systems, we remain users. If Ghana designs its own systems, we become authors," he noted.
He assured stakeholders that government is prioritising the development of digital public infrastructure, strengthening data governance frameworks, and building AI capacity to ensure Ghanaian talent can both use and build intelligent systems.
A Call for Coordinated Transformation
Sam Dzata George ended by calling for enhanced coordination across sectors, stressing that agriculture must connect with technology, technology with trade, trade with finance, and finance with youth enterprise.
He urged the young women in technology present at the conference to recognise their role as architects of Ghana's digital future.
"Your code, your platforms, your solutions, your enterprises, they are all national assets.Give your innovation, and Ghana will gain prosperity. Give your collaboration, and Ghana will gain scale. Give your courage, and Ghana will gain leadership," he disclosed.
The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that through the work of the Ministry, platforms like GI-KACE, and inclusive ecosystems like FEMITECH, Ghana will design, build, scale, and lead in the Intelligence Age.
"Let us give boldly, so that Ghana may gain abundantly," he concluded
The Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), Ing. Dr Collins Yeboah-Afari, delivering the welcome address, encouraged females to take up more professional roles in artificial intelligence (AI) to help close the gender gap in the global technology ecosystem.
Dr Yeboah-Afari highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in shaping economies, industries and societies, while noting that women remain underrepresented in the field.
According to him, statistics from the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report (2023) indicate that although women represent about 29 per cent of the global STEM workforce, they account for only about 22 per cent of professionals in artificial intelligence roles.
“This gap shows the urgent need to encourage more females to explore and pursue careers in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” he added.
Ing. Dr. Yeboah-Afari was optimistic that increasing female participation in AI and other advanced technology fields is essential for building inclusive and innovative digital economies capable of addressing complex global challenges
He noted that technology is increasingly influencing key sectors, including governance, healthcare, financial services, education, and national security, making it important for women to be actively involved in designing and developing these solutions.
Dr. Yeboah-Afari explained that the FEMITECH Conference was created to serve as a platform to inspire, mentor, and support women interested in technology through knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration.
“The FEMITECH Conference forms part of GI-KACE’s broader commitment to promoting digital skills development, innovation, and inclusive participation in Ghana’s technology ecosystem,” he said.
He encouraged organisations and technology companies to intentionally mentor, recruit, and promote women into leadership and technical roles within their institutions.
He further urged young women and girls to build digital skills and take advantage of opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering.
The event brought together several distinguished speakers, including: Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana; Ing. Dr. Lucy Agyepong, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Academic City University College; Mrs. Etta Mosore, Deputy Director General, Managerial Operations – National Communications Authority (NCA); Jada Badu, CEO, Uber Ghana; Ms. Margaret Ansei, CEO, Ghana Enterprise Agency; Winifred Kotin, Eagle Innovations
This year’s FEMITECH Conference, marking its fourth edition, was simultaneously held in Bolgatanga, Upper Region; Nkwanta South, Oti Region, and Sunyani, Bono Region.