SPEECH BY HM AT THE 7TH GENERAL MEETING OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (ITIM) ASSOCIATION
Source: ministry_of_communications_ghana

SPEECH BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATION, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOV ATIONS AT THE 7TH GENERAL MEETING OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (IT/IM) ASSOCIATION OF THE GHANA CIVIL SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY, 5TH AUGUST 2026 AT AITI-KACE, ACCRA The Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, The National President and Executives of the Information Technology and Information Management Association, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Distinguished IT and Information Management Professionals, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning. I bring your greetings from Hon Samuel Nartey George who would have wished to be here. It is a great honour and privilege to join you today for Seventh General Meeting of the Information Technology and Information Management Association of the Ghana Civil Service. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Executive Committee for inviting me to participate in what I consider a defining moment in strengthening digital governance and professionalism within Ghana's Civil Service. Today's meeting is an important milestone in the continued evolution of Information Technology and Information Management as a recognised professional cadre within the Civil Service. It reflects your collective commitment to strengthening your Association, promoting profession al excellence and contributing meaningfully to Ghana's digital transformation agenda. I am particularly pleased that today's deliberations will focus on reviewing the Association's Constitution, Election Guidelines and Election Code of Conduct. Every enduring institution is built on sound governance, accountability and shared values. By str engthening these governance instruments, you are laying the foundation for an Association that will continue to serve its members with integrity, transparency and professionalism. This year's theme, "One Constitution, One Association, One Future: Strengthening IT/IM Professionalism for a Digitally Transformed Civil Service," resonates strongly with Government's vision for a modern, efficient and technology-enabled public service. Digital transformation is fundamentally about transforming how Government works, improving collaboration across institutions, delivering better services to citizens and building a public sector that is transparent, responsive, secure and accountable. Around the world, governments are embracing Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital identity, automation, big data analytics and interoperable digital platforms to improve governance and public service delivery. These technologies have become essential enablers of economic growth, national competitiveness and inclusive development. Ghana is making steady progress on this journey. Through sustained investments and strategic policy reforms, we continue to strengthen our digital public infrastructure, expand broadband connectivity, promote digital financial services, improve electronic government platforms, enhance cybersecurity and c reate an enabling environment for innovation. These efforts are supported by important national policies and initiatives, including the Ghana Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, the National Cybersecurity Act, the Data Protection Act, the Electronic Transactions Act and the ongoing implementation of the Government's digital transformation agenda. Considering the technological improvements globally, the Government through the Ministry is reviewing current sector legislations to reflect existing and future needs as well as drafting new bills such as the Data Harmonisation Bill and others. As we move forward with the implementation of Ghana's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, digital public services will increasingly rely on trusted data, secure systems and a highly skilled public service capable of leveraging emerging technologies responsibly. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, None of these ambitions can be realised through policy alone. Digital transformation succeeds because of people. Behind every successful government digital platform, every secure network, every reliable database and every citizen -centred digital service are dedicated professionals who design, maintain and improve these systems every day. That is why your profession has become indispensable. The responsibilities of IT and Information Management professionals have evolved significantly. Today, you are expected to maintain technology infrastructure as well as provide strategic advice, strengthen cybersecurity, improve information governance, sup port innovation, manage digital risks and enable evidence-based decision-making across Government. Increasingly, you are becoming digital transformation leaders within your respective institutions. I therefore encourage you to see yourselves as architects of Ghana's digital future not just as technology officers. Every Ministry you support, every digital service you improve and every innovation you champion contributes directly to better Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Justice, Local Governance, Public Financial Management and ultimately improved quality of lif e for our citizens. However, there is, o ne area that deserves particular attention , that is, information management. Government institutions generate enormous volumes of information every single day. The value of this information depends on how effectively it is managed, protected, shared and utilised. Good information management strengthens accountability, transparency, institutional memory and evidence-based policymaking. As Artificial Intelligence and data -driven technologies become increasingly integrated into Government operations, the quality, integrity and security of Government data become even more critical. This places an even greater responsibility on Information Management professionals to ensure that Government information remains accurate, secure, accessible and fit for purpose. The future of digital government will depend on trusted information, resilient digital infrastructure and professionals who understand how technology and governance must work together. Against this backdrop, the continued growth of this Association could not have come at a better time. Strong professions require strong institutions. Every respected professional body is built upon effective governance, ethical standards, continuous learning and collective responsibility. I therefore commend the leadership of this Association for the vision they have demonstrated in strengthening the organisation and creating a platform through which members can collaborate, share knowledge, mentor younger professionals and contribute meani ngfully to national development. Unity will remain your greatest strength. By working together across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, you can establish common standards, promote best practices, strengthen peer learning and help accelerate Government -wide digital transformation. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, The Ministry remains committed to working closely with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and your Association to strengthen digital governance across the Civil Service. We will continue to promote policies and programmes that encourage innovation, cybersecurity, interoperability, Artificial Intelligence readiness, digital inclusion, digital skills development and resilient digital infrastructure. However, technology evolves rapidly. Continuous professional development is therefore no longer optional. I encourage every member of this Association to invest in lifelong learning, internationally recognised certifications, research, innovation and professional networking. Build partnerships with universities, industry, development partners and professional bodies. Let this Association become a centre of excellence that nurtures the next generation of digital leaders within Ghana's Civil Service. To our younger officers, I encourage you to embrace curiosity, professionalism, integrity and continuous learning. While technologies will continue to change, the values of public service, ethical conduct, accountability and excellence will always remain relevant. Build your careers on competence, humility and service to the nation. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, As you deliberate today, I encourage every member to participate actively in the discussions before you. Build an Association that reflects fairness, inclusiveness, transparency and professionalism. Build an institution that future generations of IT and Information Management professionals will be proud to inherit. Let this General Meeting be remembered as the occasion when Information Technology and Information Management professionals renewed their commitment to building a smarter, more efficient and digitally empowered Civil Service. Together, let us continue to build a Civil Service that leverages technology to improve governance, strengthen accountability and deliver high - quality public services to every citizen. Together, let us position Ghana as a leader in digital government, innovation and responsible Artificial Intelligence. Together, let us ensure that no public institution is left behind on Ghana's digital transformation journey. On behalf of the Ministry, I congratulate the Executive Committee and every member of the Association for your dedication and commitment. I wish you fruitful deliberations and every success in your General Meeting. May God bless the Information Technology and Information Management Association. May God bless the Civil Service of Ghana. And may God continue to bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. Thank you.