The United Nations has ranked Ghana sixth in use, adoption and adaptation of advanced technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and drones in sub-Saharan Africa.

Based on UNCTAD’s Technology and Innovation Report 2021, Ghana performs ahead of regional peers such as Kenya, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Rwanda who scored seventh, eleventh and seventeenth respectively.

However, countries that outperformed Ghana in the rankings include South Africa, Mauritius, Namibia, Gabon and Cabo Verde.

The survey on 158 countries across the globe examined progress made by countries in using, adopting and adapting to frontier technologies in a fast paced digitalized global economy.

One central theme of the report is that frontier technologies are not only essential for sustainable development but also for bridging the gap in existing inequalities.

“It is up to policies to reduce this risk and make frontier technologies contribute to increasing equality. Low- and middle-income developing countries and the least developing countries cannot afford to miss the new wave of rapid technological change”

UNCTAD’s Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi indicated that: “Frontier technologies can bring enormous benefits to the lives of poor people. Prospects are immense in agriculture, health, education, energy and other areas of development.”

He further notes that there are a number of uses to which these frontier technologies can be successfully utilized. However, in most developing economies, many of these technology deployment continue to remain at pilot level.

In addressing these, the report therefore touches on a broad spectrum of issues:

“How to scale up technology use, how to bring their benefits to the poor, what government interventions and business models work, what good practices and lessons are there, and what the missing links are?”
UNCTAD’s Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi.

Ghana’s ranking Worldwide

Globally, Ghana ranks 103 out of 158 countries in the “country readiness for frontier technologies index”. This is based on country’s ICT deployment, skills, research and development (R&D), industry activity and access to finance.

Ranking countries’ overperormance relative to per capita GDP, the Geneva-based body placed Ghana twentieth. This means that comparing Ghana’s actual index rankings and estimated index rankings, Ghana overperformed by 20 ranking positions.

Countries overperformance relative to GDP measures the difference between countries’ actual index rankings and their estimated index rankings as a percentage of their per capita income.

According to the index, the top overperformers include the United States, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Accordingly, most of the best overperformers are from Europe. With the exception of the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States.

How Ghana and other developing countries can catch up

The UNCTAD report notes that for countries to accelerate their efforts in adopting frontier technologies, they must broaden and diversify their production bases alongside mastering existing technologies.

Governments must strengthen and align Science, Technology and Innovation systems. Also, industrial policies, building digital skills among students and the workforce, and closing digital divides.

Also, Governments should enhance social protection and ease workforce transitions. Such efforts can deal with the potential negative consequences of frontier technologies on the job market.

“A key takeaway from the report is that technologies are not deterministic. We can harness their potential for the common good, and we have an obligation to do so.”
UNCTAD Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi