Ghana Moves to Reclaim Sovereign Control of .gh Domain as New GDNR Board Is Inaugurated
At the swearing-in ceremony held in Accra, the Minister, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, described the current situation—where the domain remains under private management—as a national security concern.
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has officially inaugurated the Governing Board of the Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR), with a directive to reclaim full sovereign control of the country’s digital identity asset, the .gh domain. At the swearing-in ceremony held in Accra, the Minister, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, described the current situation—where the domain remains under private management—as a national security concern.
“The .gh domain has been under private control for far too long. That is a national security risk. It is unacceptable for a sovereign digital identity asset to be operated privately.”
– Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Ghana
He noted that resolving this issue was his top priority upon assuming office. Since then, the Ministry has launched the necessary technical and financial processes to transition the .gh domain from its private operator, Ghana.com, to full government control, working closely with the GDNR.
In his charge to the newly inaugurated Board, the Minister called for bold leadership and strategic action. He urged the Board to promote national digital identity by encouraging the widespread use of .com.gh domains among local businesses. He also called for a complete digitisation of the domain registration process and legislative reforms that would mandate the use of .gh domains as part of business incorporation or renewal. Compliance across all public sector agencies must also be enforced, he added, and new revenue-generation models must be explored to sustain GDNR’s operations.
The Minister emphasised that the Board has a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by transforming .gh into a symbol of national pride and digital sovereignty. He also underlined the need for transparent, inclusive, and technically sound reforms, adding that strong governance is essential to boost public confidence and international credibility in Ghana’s domain management systems.
The new GDNR Board is chaired by Estelle Akofio Sowah. Other members include Wisdom Donkor, Solomon Tetteh Mensah, Christabel Aretha Mfoama, Professor Ayikwei Addo, Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye, Professor Amos Kabo Bah, Dr. Paul A. Danquah, and Eric Ogum Akumiah. Together, they are expected to steer Ghana’s domain governance towards a more secure, efficient, and nationally-owned future.
