He said digital transformation was the “backbone” of the government’s ambitious 24-hour economic agenda, noting that a modern, round-the-clock economy required efficient digital systems that allowed businesses, entrepreneurs, and citizens to operate without time or location barriers. 

“Imagine a Ghana where it no longer matters whether it is 10 p.m. or 10 a.m. – where opportunities are open, jobs are being created, and innovation never ceases. That is the Ghana we are building,” he said. 

Mr. Tanoh said this in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Ishmael Dodoo, the Director and Head of Partnerships and Market, 24-hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW), in Accra, on Wednesday. The three-day event aimed to celebrate Ghana’s growing digital innovation ecosystem. 

Organised by Impact Investing Ghana, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme and Ghana Hubs Network, the event was held on the theme: “Catalysing for Change- Innovation and Digital Transformation at the Centre of Ghana’s Development. “ Mr. Tanoh emphasised the role of the country’s young population in driving innovation, noting that young Ghanaians, who made up more than 57 percent of the population under the age of 25, were central to transformation. By adopting and developing digital tools, he said, they could become creators of jobs and wealth in a truly 24-hour economy. 

The 2025 Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) African Digital Transformation Report revealed that digital innovation is projected to add over GH¢40 billion to Ghana’s economy by 2029 and create more than 440,000 new jobs, especially for youth and tech-driven enterprises. Across Africa, the report estimates that the digital economy will account for 5.2 per cent of the continent’s GDP by the end of 2025, with digital payments expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2050. 

Mr. Tanoh said: “These are not just statistics; they are signals. They show that the digital economy is the new engine of growth for Africa and for Ghana.” He explained that the government’s Aspire24 Programme would partner with technology hubs, startups, universities, and innovators to build the digital infrastructure needed to sustain the 24-hour economy. This includes improvements in e-payment systems, smart transportation and security networks, digital marketplaces, and online education and freelance platforms that enabled Ghanaians to work and trade globally at any hour. 

Mr. Tanoh charged Ghanaian youth and innovators to rise to the challenge of building a resilient, technology-driven economy. “You are the creative force, the heartbeat of this ambition,” he said. “Use your skills to create solutions that serve not just Ghana, but the world. Don’t wait for the future — build it. Become your own boss, partner with others, and turn your ideas into enterprises that run 24 hours a day,” he added. 

Mr. Sam Nartey George, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, in a speech read on his behalf, said Ghana’s digital development agenda was a statement of intent, a national commitment to ensure that the country did not rely on analogue foundations in a 21st-century digital world. He highlighted that under the new administration, the country had renewed its digital machinery to promote inclusion, access, and empowerment. “No country can rise today on analogue foundations. 

The true wealth of nations lies not just in natural resources but in ideas, data, and digital infrastructure,” he stressed. The opening ceremony of the 2025 Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) Over the past year, he said, the country had made significant progress toward this goal, citing initiatives such as the one million coders programme and the Girls in ICT Initiative. Additionally, the Minister said, the government was investing in regional tech hubs, innovation labs, and accelerators to ensure equitable access to digital opportunities nationwide. 

Dr Edward Ampratwum, Head of Inclusive Growth and Accountable Governance at UNDP Ghana, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to bridging the country’s digital divide by deepening collaboration among government, private sector, academia, and civic tech innovators. He also urged stakeholders to harness technologies such as artificial intelligence for climate resilience, blockchain for transparency, and GovTech for improved service delivery, ensuring that data transformation remained people-centered and inclusive. 

Mr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, Chairman, Ghana Hub Network, called for deeper regional inclusion and collaborative efforts to drive Ghana’s digital transformation. “The regions give us the heartbeat of what happens in Ghana,” he said, stressing that deeper regional collaboration would help make national policies more responsive and inclusive.