The fourth edition of Ghana Digital and Innovation Week begins in Accra

The fourth National Digitalization and Innovation Week will take place on October 2–4, 2024

The 2024 Ghana Digital and Innovation Week kicked off at the Accra International Conference Center under the theme “Innovation Together: Collaborating for Digital Transformation and Impact”.

The national event, which will take place from Wednesday, October 2, 2024 to Friday, October 4, 2024, will bring together partners across Ghana’s digital ecosystem to inspire action, support commitments, celebrate successes and encourage collaboration.

In Wednesday’s opening ceremony speeches, various speakers, including Telecel Ghana CEO Patricia Obo Nai, who also acted as guest speaker, emphasized the need for collaboration as a driver of innovation.

“If you look at the young population we have here and the fact that Ghana is a data-intensive market, our youth have a huge presence on social media. We already have the knowledge, we have the capabilities, and some of them have the tools to use it productively to obtain wealth.

“I said that globally the contribution to GDP is about $5 trillion, but in fact 60% of that amount comes solely from productivity. So it’s not just about revenue generation for telecom companies, but also about people using technology to generate wealth. And so Ghana has a huge opportunity. Even though we talk about gaps in internet access, I think this is an opportunity to leverage what we have and the skills that our youth already have to be able to drive growth and development,” she told the press.

She highlighted collaboration as the path to the future of the digital space and therefore urged industry players to be open to collaboration.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Patrick Nomo, expressed excitement about the potential of Ghana Digital and Innovation Week.

“An event that started as a mustard seed has grown significantly each year. This shows that ecosystems take time to develop, so what we are seeing today is very promising for the emerging digital and innovation ecosystem in Ghana,” he stated.

He highlighted Ghana’s position as an attractive destination for digital start-ups and innovations and attributed this development to the engagement of various players in the country’s digital ecosystem, underpinned by thoughtful government policies.

For his part, United Nations Resident Coordinator Charles Abani challenged those operating in the digital space to see existing challenges in this space as opportunities for growth and expansion.

He also recognized Ghana’s development in the digital space in the areas of improved digital infrastructure, increasing social inclusion and digital connectivity, as well as policies such as the implementation of the Ghana Charter as laying a solid foundation for sustainable development.

“It is refreshing that Ghana’s digital ecosystem has seen significant growth with approximately 24 million active internet users, representing approximately 74% of the population,” he stated.

Representatives of the German and British governments also stressed their commitment to supporting Ghana’s growing digital space for the benefit of the country’s citizens, including youth.

The event, organized by a consortium led by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP), Ghana Hubs Network (GHN) and Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh), features partners such as GIZ, the Government of Germany, MASHAV, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (METI) and the Ministry of Communications and Digitization (MoCD). It will include exhibitions, panel discussions and sessions on the latest trends in digital innovation, offering participants the chance to learn, network and discover new opportunities.

Over 6,000 people and organizations are taking part in this year’s edition, including very promising startups.

Ahead of the national event, organizers organized six regional programs under the name “Road to GDIW” to facilitate dialogue, exchange of best practices and ensure collaborative action among various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, private sector entities, traditional authorities and community representatives.