The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to step up support for Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) development, warning that gaps in regulation, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and financing could widen the continent’s technological divide.
He said urgent and coordinated action was needed to strengthen Africa’s digital capabilities and ensure countries could harness AI to drive economic growth, improve productivity and support long-term development.
Dr Asiama made the call during the second round of Governors’ interventions at the 2026 African Caucus Meeting with the IMF Managing Director in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, October 14.
Speaking on the theme, “Africa’s Digital Sovereignty and AI for Structural Transformation: Advancing Capabilities and Deepening the Fund’s Support”, the BoG Governor emphasised the importance of digital sovereignty and the responsible deployment of emerging technologies in transforming African economies.
“AI is already reshaping productivity, competitiveness, governance, and finance,” he said.
He acknowledged Africa’s progress in digital payments, digital identification systems, AI-enabled financial services and financial technology but cautioned that persistent gaps in regulatory capacity, cybersecurity, infrastructure and financing continued to limit the safe and inclusive adoption of these innovations.
“Without urgent and coordinated action, the continent risks falling even further behind,” he warned.
Dr Asiama stressed that stronger partnerships between African countries and the IMF would be critical to ensuring the continent benefits fully from the opportunities presented by AI and the wider digital economy.
The BoG Governor called on the IMF to expand tailored capacity development support to help African countries improve AI governance, supervisory technology, cybersecurity and digital risk management.
He also urged the Fund to support a stronger African voice in shaping global digital norms and standards, arguing that the continent must have a meaningful role in decisions that will influence the future of AI.
According to Dr Asiama, Africa’s ambitions should extend beyond adopting existing technologies to developing the capacity to adapt, govern and innovate with AI in ways that address the continent’s development priorities.
He said such an approach would help strengthen economic resilience, improve productivity and promote inclusive growth.
Dr Asiama further called for stronger IMF research into the relationship between AI, digital transformation and macro-financial stability.
He advocated for the integration of AI-related considerations, where relevant, into the Fund’s economic surveillance activities and Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAPs).
He also urged the IMF to deepen its analysis of how AI could affect productivity, employment, financial resilience and inclusive growth.
The Governor highlighted the need for greater policy coherence in data governance, digital trade and cross-border AI regulation to help African countries navigate the economic and regulatory implications of rapidly evolving technologies.
These measures, he indicated, would support more informed policymaking and help countries prepare for the opportunities and risks associated with AI-driven economic transformation.
On financing, Dr Asiama emphasised the need to mobilise affordable resources for secure digital public infrastructure and initiatives aimed at narrowing Africa’s digital divide.
He said sustained investment would be essential to ensuring African countries could participate meaningfully in the global digital economy and use AI to advance sustainable development.
Access to reliable digital infrastructure and affordable financing would also help create an enabling environment for innovation while ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement were not limited to a few countries or segments of society.
His intervention underscored the need for international cooperation, effective regulation and sustainable investment to ensure that digital transformation delivers broad-based economic benefits across Africa.
As AI continues to reshape global industries, Dr Asiama’s call places capacity development, digital sovereignty and financial inclusion at the centre of efforts to position African economies for the emerging digital era.
