By Adnan Adams Mohammed
The Government of Ghana has launched an ambitious public sector modernization drive aimed at streamlining administrative workflows, eliminating bureaucratic delays, and dramatically improving service delivery for citizens nationwide.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, September 7, 2026, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced key milestones designed to enhance public service performance through digital tools, workforce upskilling, and paperless administrative systems.
3.5 Million Records Going Digital to Speed Up Public Services
At the centerpiece of the service enhancement strategy is the complete digitisation of 3.5 million public records managed by the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD). Following the execution of a major contract on August 13, 2026, the initiative will convert paper archives into secure, easily accessible electronic formats.
The move is expected to eliminate chronic administrative bottlenecks, shorten processing times for official documents, and improve transparency across state agencies.
Reflecting on the government’s commitment to building a transparent and agile public administration, Mr. Sam George emphasized the necessity of open governance.
”I raise these figures not to make excuses, but because I said at the outset that this Ministry would be as candid about its challenges as it is about its achievements,” he remarked.
Upskilling Public Officials in AI and Emerging Technologies
To ensure civil servants possess the technical skills required to operate a modernized administration, the government is set to train 50 “Digital Champions” and senior public officials in artificial intelligence by December 2026. This initiative builds on the Cabinet-approved National AI Strategy 2025–2035 and follows introductory AI literacy training already delivered to 240 civil servants.
By embedding AI capabilities directly into state institutions, the government aims to optimize resource management, automate routine processes, and improve data-driven decision-making.
”The work is far from finished, and I will not pretend otherwise. But the direction is unmistakable, the results are measurable, and the resolve of this Ministry is unshaken,” Mr. Sam George stated during his address.
Preparing the Next Generation of Public and Private Talent
To support long-term operational efficiency across both public and private sectors, the Ministry signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 11 Ghanaian universities. The agreements will embed industry-standard digital certifications—such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud computing—directly into degree programs, ensuring future graduates entering the workforce possess immediate operational capabilities.
”We are bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical execution,” the Minister explained. “By embedding certified, industry-aligned skills into our university curricula, we ensure that Ghanaian graduates do not just enter the job market with a degree, but with actionable digital competencies that make them immediately competitive globally.”
Closing the Rural Service Gap through Connectivity
To ensure that digitized public services reach every corner of the country, the ministry is aggressively expanding 4G coverage to underserved rural areas and establishing the National Data Exchange Hub.
Highlighting how improved infrastructure directly translates into better public and economic services for everyday citizens, Mr. Sam George noted the critical need for equal digital access.
”A farmer in a 2G-only community can call the market to ask about prices; she cannot, on that same connection, list her produce on a digital marketplace, receive a real-time weather advisory, or draw down a mobile banking loan,” he pointed out. “Rural Ghana should not be made to wait a generation behind the rest of the country for tools that are transforming how citizens learn, trade, farm, bank, and access healthcare.”
