Ghana partners with Huawei to train 3,000 girls in AI as part of $250M digital push

Ghana Partners with Hu Ghana has taken a significant step in its digital transformation agenda, securing a partnership with Chinese multinational Huawei Technologies to provide specialized artificial intelligence (AI) training for 3,000 girls.

The agreement was finalized on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona during a meeting between Ghana’s Communications Minister, Samuel Nartey George, and Huawei’s Senior Vice President, Steven Yi.

Under the terms of the deal, Huawei will integrate a bespoke AI training module into the government’s long-standing Girls in ICT Programme. The initiative, which has trained nearly 18,000 girls since its launch in 2012, focuses on equipping young women with skills in coding, web development, and cybersecurity. This new “crash programme in AI skills,” as described by Minister Nartey George, marks a major expansion of the curriculum.

Following the AI training, participants are expected to transition into the government’s flagship One Million Coders Programme to further deepen their technical expertise. “With Huawei coming on board, we are going to have a crash programme in AI skills,” the Minister stated. He emphasized that the strategy is designed to build a robust talent pipeline early, preparing Ghanaians for opportunities in the nation’s burgeoning digital economy.

Beyond Training: A Broader Tech Investment Agenda

The discussions in Barcelona extended beyond workforce development, delving into Ghana’s broader ambition to become a regional technology hub. Minister Nartey George outlined the government’s plans for a $250 million AI Compute Centre, the rollout of 5G infrastructure, and the expansion of rural telephony.

According to the minister, Huawei expressed strong interest in participating in these infrastructure projects. However, he stressed that any partnership would be reciprocal. “While we welcome investment, we expect meaningful social investment from partners seeking access to our expanding technology market,” Nartey George noted, framing the AI training deal as a direct outcome of this principle.

Local Manufacturing in Sight

The talks also explored the potential for establishing a smartphone assembly plant in Ghana. The proposed facility would aim to manufacture affordable devices for both the domestic and West African markets, directly addressing a critical barrier to digital inclusion.

Currently, while 4G network coverage exceeds 90% of Ghana’s population, actual usage languishes below 60%. A significant portion of citizens still rely on feature phones incapable of accessing high-speed mobile networks. Government officials view local manufacturing as key to lowering the cost of smart devices, thereby increasing internet penetration and ensuring that citizens can utilize the digital skills they are acquiring.

The partnership with Huawei signals a deepening of Ghana’s strategy to leverage international expertise to build local capacity, bridging the gap between infrastructure availability and practical digital literacy.