BoG chief pushes IMF to expand AI investment across Africa as Ghana seeks tech partnership deals

Dr. Johnson Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has made a fresh appeal to the International Monetary Fund to dramatically increase financial backing for artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity frameworks and digital infrastructure across Africa. His call comes as Ghana actively pursues investment partnerships at an international forum in Thailand, signalling the nation's commitment to positioning itself as a technology hub within the region.

The BoG Governor's remarks underscore growing recognition among African financial leaders that the continent risks falling further behind in the global digital economy without strategic, scaled investment in emerging technologies. Currently, Africa's share of global AI development and deployment remains minimal, with most AI applications and infrastructure concentrated in North America, Europe and parts of Asia.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana has positioned itself as a leader in digital innovation within West Africa, home to a growing fintech ecosystem and increasing numbers of tech startups. However, sustained growth requires not only private sector investment but also public infrastructure and institutional capacity—areas where IMF support could be transformative. Enhanced AI and cybersecurity capabilities would strengthen Ghana's financial sector resilience, boost competitiveness for foreign direct investment, and create high-skilled employment opportunities for young Ghanaians in the technology space.

Additionally, improved digital infrastructure would support Ghana's broader economic diversification goals beyond traditional sectors like mining and agriculture, potentially opening new revenue streams and reducing vulnerability to commodity price shocks.

The broader African imperative

Dr. Asiama's intervention reflects a continent-wide challenge. African nations collectively lack the digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and skilled workforce needed to harness AI's potential for financial services, healthcare, education and agricultural productivity. The IMF, as a major lender and policy influencer across Africa, is uniquely positioned to integrate technology investment into its lending conditions and technical assistance programmes.

Several key areas need attention:

• Development of robust cybersecurity standards to protect financial systems and citizen data
• Investment in AI research and training centres at African universities
• Creation of regulatory sandboxes allowing fintech and AI startups to innovate safely
• Digital infrastructure upgrades, particularly in rural and underserved regions

Ghana's investment push

The timing of the BoG Governor's appeal whilst Ghana courts international investors in Thailand reflects strategic diplomacy. The nation is actively marketing itself as an investment destination for technology companies seeking to establish African operations, leveraging its relative political stability, English language advantage and existing financial sector expertise.

For these efforts to succeed, Ghana must demonstrate not only market opportunity but also governmental commitment to building the digital infrastructure and institutional frameworks that investors demand. IMF-backed support would provide both the capital and the policy credibility needed to accelerate this transformation.

The path forward requires coordinated action between African central banks, the IMF, bilateral partners and private investors to ensure that the next generation of AI-driven economic growth is not a preserve of the Global North alone.