The Deputy Chief of Staff has called for a more supportive financial and regulatory environment for young technology entrepreneurs and startups, warning that heavy taxation and other barriers could make it difficult for emerging businesses to scale.

She said Ghana’s growing digital economy presents a major opportunity for young people to create businesses, develop innovative solutions and find new pathways to economic empowerment.

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National ICT Week on August 17, 2026, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said government must ensure that the country’s digital transformation translates into tangible opportunities for young innovators.

"The field is dominated by enthusiastic young citizens who are using tech as a pathway out of economic hardship."

She said the country cannot afford to overlook the potential of young developers and technology entrepreneurs who are already building solutions to local challenges.

The Deputy Chief of Staff cited the One Million Coders programme as one of government’s interventions aimed at preparing young people for the digital economy.

She mentioned the programme goes beyond coding and is intended to equip young people with a broader range of skills that can improve their participation in the digital economy.

"We all agreed that it goes beyond coding and that so many other programmes."

She also highlighted a government programme targeting 50,000 persons with disabilities for digital skills training as well as a pilot programme in which women constituted 52 percent of participants.

She, however, stressed that skills development alone would not be enough if young innovators lacked the financial and regulatory support required to commercialise their ideas.

"We must discourage heavy taxation because this makes it exceedingly difficult for new developers and startups to scale."

She cited Turkey as an example of a country that supports its technology ecosystem through subsidies on software licences, cloud hosting and app-store commissions.

"Ghana can equally foster a very supportive financial ecosystem for tech. Let us empower these young entrepreneurs."

She stressed that such measures could give young technology professionals the financial pathway needed to develop their ideas into sustainable businesses.

The Deputy Chief of Staff also called for stronger links between innovation, academia and industry, stressing that Ghanaian talent must be given the opportunity to move from developing ideas to creating solutions that can be deployed at scale.

She cited the example of a university student who developed a low-cost Artificial Intelligence-powered cocoa disease detection tool to support farmers.

"Ghana does not lack in talent."

The Deputy Chief of Staff also drew attention to the growing economic value of Ghana’s digital economy, noting that the global digital economy is projected to reach $28 trillion.

"This is not a future possibility. It is happening now and Ghana is positioning itself to lead this."

She emphasised government is pursuing measures including the expansion of digital infrastructure, digitalisation of public services, investment in digital skills and entrepreneurship, and stronger cybersecurity and data protection.

She also cautioned against the irresponsible use of technology, particularly through digital platforms and content creation.

"Technology is also a weapon when wielded carelessly."

The Deputy Chief of Staff said sustained investment in digital infrastructure, skills development, cybersecurity, support for local innovators and inclusive participation would be critical to ensuring that Ghana’s digital transformation creates meaningful economic opportunities for its citizens.