Members of Parliament from the Select Committee on Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations paid a working visit to the Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) on Friday, October 3, 2025, to assess the facility’s operations and explore ways to enhance its impact on Ghana’s digital ecosystem.
The parliamentary delegation, led by Bandum Lamangm Abed-Nego, Chairperson of the Committee and MP for Bunkpurugu, toured key facilities, including MLAB, IHUB and selected Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies operating at the Centre.
The visit aimed to provide legislators with firsthand insight into the Centre’s role in fostering digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana.
During his welcome address, Dzifa Gunu, CEO of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, presented a candid assessment of the Centre’s current state and future potential.
“The Ghana Digital Centres have so much potential,” he told the delegation. “It’s a ten-year-old building that needs maintenance and renovation. But beyond infrastructure, we’re also grappling with inadequate funding for our programmes and projects.
“The demand for office space outweighs our current supply, we have limited collaboration with other government agencies, and we lack the vehicles needed to support the Centre’s operations effectively.”
Gunu made an earnest appeal for support, emphasizing the critical need for intervention.
“With support from government and donor partners, the Centre can replicate the Accra Digital Centre model in other regions, thereby creating jobs and opportunities for the Ghanaian people.
“We need this backing to fulfil our mandate and reach our full potential,” he added.
The highlight of the presentation came from Edward Aikins, the Business Development Manager, who shared impressive figures that captured the Committee’s attention.
According to him, the Centre currently boasts an occupancy rate of over 60%, hosting more than 60 technology companies.
“We’ve created over 3,000 digital and ancillary jobs through ICT and BPO firms operating at the Centre,” he stated.
The figures extended further over 500 startups have received incubation and support services, while more than 10,000 young people have participated in digital training programmes.
Aikins also outlined the Centre’s comprehensive support ecosystem, which includes programmes such as GODEP a partnership between the Government of Ghana and Oracle Corporation that provides startups and SMEs access to Oracle’s cloud technology.
He highlighted other initiatives such as the MASHAV cooperation between Israel, Germany, and Ghana, the Ghana Digital and Innovation Hub, and TDIP a national initiative linking Ghana’s digital innovation ecosystem with tertiary institutions.
The presentation detailed the Centre’s strategic pillars, spanning partnerships for infrastructure development, the Ghana Digital Innovation Fund, digital skills development and incubation programmes, soft skills development and BPO service growth.
Key recommendations included formally assigning the operational management of Regional Digital and Innovation Centres to GDCL, establishing BPO and KPO service support through designated Special Economic Zones in partnership with the Ghana Free Zones Authority and developing incubation and acceleration programmes as part of the One Million Coders Digital Entrepreneurship and Employability Programme.
Other recommendations focused on strengthening the supervision of MLAB and IHUB, procuring operational vehicles to support the Centre’s activities, expanding the Accra Digital Centre and finalizing the transfer of ownership from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations.
Bandum Lamangm Abed-Nego responded enthusiastically to what he observed, particularly the outcomes of the incubator programmes.
“The products from the incubator programme should be exported,” he advised. “Gari and other local products, when well packaged, can be exported to London, for example, thereby creating more opportunities for our people.”
His remarks underscored the potential for GDCL to serve as a launchpad not just for digital services but also for Ghana’s broader economic transformation.
The delegation included Owiredu Asuako Charles, MP for Abirem and Deputy Ranking Member, Alhassan Umar, MP for Zabzugu, Djabab Kofi Nelson, MP for Krachi East and Matthew Nyindan, Ranking Member.
Several members of GDCL staff were also in attendance to support the visit and provide technical insights.
The Centre works in partnership with major organizations, including the World Bank Group, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Intrinsic Innovations, GIZ, MTN, Telecel, ITU and academic institutions such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Academic City University and the University of Ghana.
As the visit concluded, there was a palpable sense that the Committee had gained valuable insight into both the achievements and challenges of Ghana’s premier digital innovation hub setting the stage for potential policy interventions and increased government support in the future.
