At MWC 2025 in Barcelona, where global tech and telecom leaders gather to shape the future of connectivity and innovation, Ghana made a significant move toward advancing its digital transformation agenda. The country formalized a strategic public-private partnership with MTN through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement is set to play a pivotal role in upskilling and reskilling Ghana’s youth, aligning with the government’s ambitious goal of training one million young Ghanaians in digital skills over the next four years.

To gain deeper insights into this partnership and Ghana’s broader vision for AI and digital inclusion, Akim Benamara, Founder and Chief Editor of TechAfrica News, sat down with Honourable Samuel Nartey George, MP, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations.

Hon. Samuel Nartey George is a third-term Member of Ghana’s Parliament with extensive experience in governance, digital policy, and ICT.  With professional certifications in multiple ICT disciplines, he has previously worked in Ghana’s Civil Service, served as a Communications Specialist at the Presidency, and was a Deputy Ranking Member of the Communications Select Committee in Parliament. He is also the Secretary-General of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG).

In this exclusive interview, Minister George shares his thoughts on the power of public-private partnerships, Ghana’s AI ambitions, and the country’s commitment to equipping its youth with the necessary digital skills.

“We believe that African AI must be AI for Africa, by Africans, and from Africa. That means African AI engineers, African data scientists, and African cybersecurity experts must be the ones developing AI tools tailored to the continent’s unique nuances and challenges. To achieve this, we need to build local expertise, and that’s a key pillar of everything we are doing in Ghana.”

– Honourable Samuel Nartey George, MP, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Ghana

Minister, you just signed an MoU with MTN. How important is public-private sector partnership in upskilling our young continent, and especially our young country? 

MTN, like other telecom companies in Ghana, is an enabler in this ecosystem. As a major player in the telecom sector, they play a critical role in upskilling and reskilling our young people.

When the government sets an ambitious goal—like training one million people over the next four years—it cannot be achieved by government intervention alone. Public-private partnerships are essential to making this vision a reality. I’m excited that we’ve signed this MoU, which solidifies MTN’s role in using their platform and agency to help us achieve this dream of training a million young Ghanaians.

Africa is a young continent, with most of the population under 30 years old. It’s encouraging to see governments taking action and recognizing the importance of youth upskilling. Would you say this initiative aligns with your long-term vision? 

Absolutely. Over the next four years, we have a bold vision to position Accra—and by extension, Ghana—as the hub for African AI.

We believe that African AI must be AI for Africa, by Africans, and from Africa. That means African AI engineers, African data scientists, and African cybersecurity experts must be the ones developing AI tools tailored to the continent’s unique nuances and challenges.

To achieve this, we need to build local expertise, and that’s a key pillar of everything we are doing in Ghana. This initiative is a major step in ensuring our youth have the skills and opportunities to drive Africa’s digital transformation.

Ghana is taking bold steps toward becoming a digital powerhouse, ensuring that its youth are well-equipped for the future of work through strategic partnerships like this one with MTN. As the nation moves forward in its AI and digital transformation journey, collaborations between the public and private sectors will remain crucial in driving sustainable growth and innovation.