The $1bn strategic partnership aims to position Ghana as a regional technology powerhouse, combining artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and startup investment in what is billed as Africa's largest integrated innovation hub.
Ghana and the United Arab Emirates have signed a $1bn strategic investment agreement to develop what is being positioned as Africa's largest integrated innovation and artificial intelligence hub. The project is expected to significantly expand Ghana's digital and technological capacity while serving regional and global markets.
The agreement forms part of a broader bilateral partnership between the two countries and aims to strengthen artificial intelligence development, digital infrastructure and startup growth in Ghana. The hub will be developed in Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026. Under the arrangement, Ghana will provide the land and policy framework, while the UAE, through the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), will finance and oversee the development.
A substantial share of the $1bn investment will be directed towards artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Around $400m has been allocated to high-performance AI infrastructure, including $180m for an AI Compute Hub to be developed by UAE-based technology group G42. The facility will use renewable energy and liquid-cooling systems. A further $100m will fund a national AI-powered digital identity system built on Falcon large language models via AI71, while the remaining $120m will support the creation of a Ghana AI Startup Studio in partnership with Hub71, with the ambition of attracting and scaling up to 100 AI startups by 2030.
Digital infrastructure forms another core pillar of the agreement, with $350m earmarked to support large-scale innovation. Plans include $150m for the deployment of 5G networks in three key urban centres, led by e& UAE, alongside $120m for the construction of a Tier IV hyperscale data centre. An additional $80m will be invested in renewable, AI-optimised power systems delivered by Masdar Digital. The project also includes satellite internet connectivity for rural innovation hubs, extending digital access beyond major cities.
To support long-term ecosystem development, $250m has been allocated to innovation, talent and capital formation. This includes $75m for a Ghana-UAE AI and Web3 campus supported by the Dubai Future Foundation, as well as $100m for a Ghana Startup Fund backed by ADQ and Chimera Capital. A further $75m will fund an annual UAE-Ghana Innovation and AI Summit, known as GAIX.
Officials involved in the initiative describe the development as more than a conventional technology park. The hub is expected to support AI engineering, applied research, business process outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing, as well as Africa-focused data and machine learning operations. It is also designed to attract multinational technology companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, IBM and Alphabet, while strengthening local enterprise capacity and skills development.
The agreement reflects a broader shift towards long-term, infrastructure-led technology investment in Africa. For Ghana, the project reinforces its ambition to position itself as a regional digital and innovation hub, while creating employment opportunities and supporting skills transfer. For the UAE, the deal aligns with its strategy to expand its global technology footprint through partnerships in emerging markets.
With construction set to begin in 2026, the project represents one of the largest single technology investments announced in Ghana to date, signalling growing confidence in the country's digital and economic prospects.