The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building Ghana’s technological capacity and human capital development with the launch of the RoboTechLabs Project at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa.
Delivering the keynote address at the launch on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Minister described the initiative as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future, aimed at positioning the country within the emerging global digital industrial order driven by robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing systems.
The RoboTechLabs Project is a partnership between develoPPP/ibes AG and UMaT, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It is aimed at improving employability and enhancing youth participation in emerging fields within robotics and automation, thereby supporting Ghana’s broader digital innovation and industrial transformation agenda.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George expressed appreciation to the development partners for their continued support in strengthening Ghana’s technological ecosystem and investing in the country’s next generation of innovators.
He emphasised that the launch of the laboratory goes beyond inaugurating a physical facility, noting that it represents a deliberate step towards equipping Ghana with the capabilities required to design, deploy, and govern emerging technologies.
According to him, nations that successfully integrate robotics and automation into their education and industrial systems will gain a competitive advantage in the evolving global economy.
The Minister noted that Ghana’s digital transformation agenda is anchored on three strategic pillars: expanding resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure; accelerating digital skills development across all levels of society; and strengthening innovation ecosystems to support high-value technology industries.
“RoboTechLabs speaks directly to the second and third pillars. Ghana has made clear its ambition to become a leading digital hub in Africa. However, infrastructure and policies alone are not enough. The true engine of digital transformation is human capital,” he emphasised.
He explained that the RoboTechLabs initiative directly contributes to the country’s digital skills development and innovation goals by bridging the gap between academic instruction and industry application.
The facility, he said, will provide students and professionals with practical exposure to robotics, automation systems, embedded engineering, and industrial control technologies—skills that are critical for Ghana’s industrial modernisation.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George highlighted ongoing government initiatives aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with future-ready skills. These include the National Digital Skills Programme and the One Million Coders Programme, which focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, and software engineering.
He added that the government is also working through key institutions, including the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), and Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL), to create secure, innovation-ready environments that support technological growth and entrepreneurship.
According to the Minister, robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important across key sectors of the economy, including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and energy.
He stressed that institutions such as UMaT are uniquely positioned to drive applied technological innovation, particularly in the industrial and extractive sectors that remain central to Ghana’s economic development.
Hon. Nartey George further underscored the importance of collaboration among academia, development partners, and the private sector in building sustainable innovation ecosystems.
He noted that such partnerships ensure that education, policy, and industry demands remain aligned to support technological advancement and economic growth.
The Minister also assured stakeholders that the government continues to strengthen the broader enabling environment for digital innovation through regulatory and policy reforms, cybersecurity reinforcement, and the expansion of digital infrastructure across the country.
The Project Manager of GIZ’s develoPPP Programme, Ms Resal Saberi, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing robotics, automation, and digital skills development in Ghana.
She described the initiative as a collaborative effort supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the develoPPP programme, in partnership with ibes AG and UMaT.
Ms Saberi also noted that the project represents a practical example of how public and private sector actors can work together to create solutions that benefit businesses, local institutions, and sustainable development.
She added that the establishment of the RoboTechLab at UMaT will provide a state-of-the-art environment for students and professionals to gain hands-on experience in robotics and automation.
The facility, she noted, is expected to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry while equipping young professionals with the practical skills needed to respond to rapidly evolving technologies shaping sectors such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics.
