Accra, Ghana – In Accra, at the conclusion of the third Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW), stakeholders in Ghana’s digital sector have emphasized the need for financial, infrastructural, and capacity development support to commercialize innovations in the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, which saw innovators from countries including France, Germany, and other West African nations, providing adequate support in these areas is crucial for transforming Ghana’s digital landscape. This transformation is expected to lead to sustainable job creation, particularly for the youth, and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic stability and social development. The World Bank recognizes Ghana as a leader in the Digital Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting an average sector growth of 19 percent per year from 2014 to 2020.
Ms. Amma Lartey, Chief Executive Officer of Impact Investing Ghana, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, emphasized that many Ghanaians are developing digital products and services to address everyday needs. She underscored the importance of increased financial backing for these innovations, noting that this support is key to integrating Ghana’s digital ecosystem and enhancing the quality of life, sustainable youth employment, and socio-economic diversification.
Lartey also highlighted that the commercialization of these innovations requires consistent and clear policies, streamlined licensing regimes, funding, easy access to information, and capable teams to market the products and services effectively.
Adding to the call for support, Mr. Michael Abbiw, a Business Development and Marketing Strategist, urged government, development partners, and financial sector actors to contribute to the commercialization of Ghanaian innovations. He advocated for a more integrated approach among ministries, agencies, and the private sector, suggesting the incorporation of the national innovations challenge into the GDIW for mutual benefit and holistic development.
At the event, Mr. Kwamena Essilfie Quayson, Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MESTI), spoke about the transformative potential of digital technology in driving economic growth and providing opportunities. He called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that Ghanaian innovations are developed as premier solutions globally.
Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), emphasized the importance of maintaining the GDIW as a vital platform for showcasing Ghanaian innovations and facilitating interactions with key decision-makers in government, academia, and industry.
The GDIW, a trilateral partnership program between Ghana, Germany, and Israel, serves as a platform for learning, idea sharing, and networking to advance the digital landscape. The event, which also included conferences in the Northern, Eastern, and Ashanti regions, aims at decentralization and wider reach. The Ghanaian government committed to facilitating start-ups becoming critical service providers, with MTN Ghana, IMPC, Green Exploration Labs, and GIZ pledging ongoing support for the initiative.