Positioning Ghana in Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem: The Impact of Ghana Digital Innovation Week.

The Ghana and Digital Innovation Week (GDIW) has served as a foundation for the country’s digital transformation agenda by promoting collaboration, policy development, and grassroots engagement within the digital transformation and innovation ecosystem.

Reflecting on the many highlights and successes of Ghana and Digital Innovation Week (GDIW), its impact extends beyond national borders, shaping the global digital landscape. The event, launched in 2021 has not only fostered collaboration and policy development but has also positioned Ghana as a key player in Africa’s innovation ecosystem. A major milestone in its journey is the successful transition to a locally led consortium, ensuring long-term sustainability and continued growth in the years ahead.

Growth in Numbers and Reach

Over the years, GDIW has seen remarkable growth in participation, partnerships, and regional reach.

Participation: Since its inception, GDIW has consistently attracted thousands of participants annually by bringing together government officials, private sector leaders, startups, investors, development partners, academia and other relevant stakeholders. By 2024, about 15,000 participants had engaged in the event, both in-person and virtually.

Grassroot Participation: Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) has progressively expanded its reach to foster greater inclusion and regional balance. The inaugural edition featured satellite events in three regions—Ashanti, Eastern, and Northern. By 2023, GDIW transitioned from satellite to fully physical events in these regions to ensure broader local participation. Building on this momentum, the 2024 edition expanded to six regions, reinforcing its commitment to grassroots engagement and equitable digital growth. This expansion aligns with Ghana’s vision for regional inclusivity and encourages local actors to drive innovation. The 2025 edition is set to extend to six additional regions, bringing the total number of regions to twelve, to further strengthen nationwide digital transformation efforts. 

Policy Influence: GDIW has provided a platform for critical discussions that have influenced national policies, including the Ghana Startup Bill, the National AI Strategy and the recently launched Ghana Digital Economy Policy, which will serve as a roadmap for Ghana’s digital future.

Startup and Investor Engagement: As part of its objectives, GDIW serves as a platform to spotlight promising innovators in the country. Since its inception, over 500 innovators have been provided with a platform for growth through exhibitions, product launches, and networking opportunities. Several startups have reported initiating investor conversations during the event, which have resulted in successful long-term investments.

International Participation: Since its inception, GDIW has welcomed over 500 participants from over 30 countries, including representatives from international organizations, global tech firms, and foreign governments and has further solidified Ghana’s position in the global digital landscape.   

 A Platform for Collaboration and Policy Influence

Beyond the numbers, GDIW has played a key role in shaping the digital innovation landscape through qualitative impacts.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: GDIW has strengthened partnerships that have led to cross-sector collaborations and fostered a more cohesive and supportive digital ecosystem by bringing together government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Several MoU signings have taken place during the event, with some partnerships ultimately materializing as a result of initial engagements at GDIW.

Empowering Young Innovators: The platform has nurtured the next generation of digital leaders and shared global best practices through masterclasses and industry-led workshops. Young innovators have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the digital landscape successfully. Additionally, GDIW has facilitated networking opportunities between emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned industry leaders to build a culture of knowledge exchange and growth. The event has also enabled young startups to showcase their innovations, attract potential investors, and build sustainable business models by offering exhibition spaces, TED-like speeches and pitch sessions.

Showcasing Ghana’s Digital Progress: GDIW has been instrumental in highlighting Ghana’s digital milestones. The event has consistently provided a platform for government agencies and industry leaders to showcase key innovations and policies driving Ghana’s digital agenda. Stakeholders have been able to engage with these technological advancements firsthand through various platforms such as high-level panel discussions and policy roundtables. This continuous dialogue has played a key role in refining and improving the country’s digital infrastructure and ultimately contributed to a more inclusive and robust digital economy.

Collaboration between other GIZ Projects: GDIW has also provided the platform for other GIZ projects with a focus on digital innovation. Several projects such as Invest for Jobs, Make-IT in Africa, the Pan-African E-Commerce Initiative, WiDU, MOVE, PAIReD, and other related projects have leveraged the event as a platform to organize mini-events and exhibitions that have helped them meet their project indicators while expanding their reach to a broader audience of beneficiaries. This synergy has reinforced the interconnectedness of various digital initiatives and contributed to cohesiveness between GIZ Ghana implemented projects.

GDIW’s Global Impact 

GDIW’s influence extends beyond Ghana and serves as a model for international cooperation in digital transformation. The trilateral collaboration between Ghana, Germany, and Israel, which laid the foundation for the event, has demonstrated the power of cross-border partnerships in driving innovation. Over the last year, GDIW has moved beyond this trilateral cooperation to embrace a multilateral approach by welcoming other development agencies to contribute towards a more collective effort in advancing the digital ecosystem. This shift has allowed for a broader exchange of ideas, resources, and best practices.

Furthermore, GDIW’s model has been adopted by international colleagues who previously participated in the event. Several of them are looking into designing similar programs in their own countries by leveraging the framework of multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy engagement, and grassroots innovation. 

A Milestone Achievement: Transitioning to Local Ownership

One of the most significant milestones of GDIW’s journey is its successful transition to a consortium of local actors. From its early stages, the event was driven by a multi-stakeholder committee with strong international support. However, recognizing the need for sustainability and local ownership, GDIW has now been fully handed over to a consortium of Ghanaian institutions to ensure that it remains an indigenous initiative rooted in the country’s digital aspirations.

This transition marks a major achievement in strengthening Ghana’s capacity to sustain large-scale innovation programs. It also reinforces the importance of local actors taking ownership of digital transformation efforts and alignment with national priorities for long-term sustainability.

 The Future of GDIW

As GDIW moves into this new phase, the focus remains on deepening impact, fostering stronger partnerships, and expanding regional and international collaborations. With its new structure under local leadership, the event is well-positioned to drive meaningful change, champion policies that support innovation, and provide a platform for the next generation of digital pioneers.

GDIW’s journey since 2021 has been one of growth, collaboration, and transformation. Through its impact on policy, grassroots participation, and global engagement, it has cemented its place as a leading platform for digital transformation and innovation in the country. As it evolves under local leadership, its role in shaping Ghana’s digital future remains stronger than ever.

The Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) since its inception has been supported by the Digital Transformation Center, Ghana (DTC) along with key stakeholders in the Ghanaian digital ecosystem. The Digital Transformation Center, Ghana (DTC) is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH’.