Artificial Intelligence law at Ghana
As of May 2025, Ghana is actively developing a comprehensive framework to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI), aiming to harness its potential for national development while addressing associated risks.
🇬🇠Ghana’s AI Regulatory Landscape
1. National AI Strategy (2023–2033)
In October 2022, Ghana unveiled its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2023–2033), developed by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) with support from Smart Africa, GIZ FAIR Forward, and The Future Society. This strategy outlines a vision to transform Ghana into an AI-powered society by 2033, focusing on inclusive growth across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, transportation, energy, and finance. It emphasizes ethical AI deployment, capacity building, and public sector adoption, with oversight provided by a dedicated Responsible AI (RAI) Office .(Digital Watch Observatory)
2. Draft AI Policy and Ethical Guidelines
In January 2024, the MoCD announced the development of a draft AI policy and ethical guidelines, incorporating extensive stakeholder consultations. The policy aims to regulate AI use in Ghana, ensuring benefits in areas like healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and energy. However, as of mid-2025, the policy is still awaiting Cabinet consideration, leading to concerns about the delay in its implementation .(Your Trusted Tech News Platform, Your Trusted Tech News Platform)
3. Ethical AI Readiness Assessment (RAM)
On 30 September 2024, Ghana, through the MoCD and the Data Protection Commission, in collaboration with UNESCO, launched the Readiness Assessment Measurement (RAM) for the Ethical Use of AI. This initiative focuses on bridging the digital divide and developing AI systems suited to Ghana's local needs, ensuring they contribute to national development and support human-centric decision-making .(DPA)
4. Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843)
Ghana's Data Protection Act, enacted in 2012, regulates the processing of personal data to protect individual privacy. It establishes a Data Protection Commission responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act's provisions. This legislation is crucial for AI governance, as AI systems often rely on large datasets and must adhere to data protection principles .(Wikipedia)
5. Parliamentary Advocacy for AI Regulation
In June 2023, Members of Parliament (MPs) proposed the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Council to regulate AI use in Ghana. They expressed concerns about the rapid development of AI technologies and the need for a unified strategy to ensure their ethical and responsible deployment .(Ghana News Online)
🔮 Future Outlook
While Ghana has made significant strides in developing an AI regulatory framework, the delay in finalizing and implementing the draft AI policy raises questions about the pace of progress. The establishment of the Responsible AI Office and the completion of the RAM assessment are positive steps, but the effectiveness of these initiatives will depend on timely policy enactment and enforcement. Continued collaboration among government agencies, stakeholders, and international partners will be essential to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed in a manner that aligns with Ghana's development goals and ethical standards.(Digital Watch Observatory)
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