adverts
Sam George Tasks Google to Develop AI Solutions for Flooding, Waste, and Traffic in Ghana
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations Sam Nartey George has issued a bold challenge to global tech giant Google to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to tackle three of Ghana’s most persistent urban problems: perennial flooding, waste management, and chaotic traffic.
Speaking at the launch of the Google AI Community Centre in Accra, the minister gave Google until next year to develop and implement technologies to address these issues, which he said continue to hamper the country’s growth and liveability.
Sam George declared that the time had come for technology to respond directly to national challenges and not just serve commercial ends.
adverts
“Technology must have meaning. It must solve problems. And I am giving Google three assignments—help us solve flooding, manage our waste, and fix traffic. You have until next year.”
Once largely limited to Accra, the minister noted that flooding now afflicts several major cities across the country.
“Cape Coast is flooding, Takoradi is flooding, Kumasi is flooding, and even Tamale is flooding. This is no longer a regional issue—it’s national,” he said.
He called on Google to design an AI-driven solution that can predict, monitor, and help mitigate flood risks. He pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing to pilot any technology developed by Google.
Addressing waste management, the minister lamented the deteriorating state of cleanliness in Accra and other urban centres, noting that existing solutions are unsustainable.
“Accra is a beautiful city, but it’s getting dirtier. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. We need tech to help local government institutions manage waste more efficiently,” he said.
Sam George noted that under President John Mahama’s reset agenda, a committee is already exploring decentralised waste management systems—into which AI solutions could be integrated for real-time monitoring, route optimisation for collection, and public compliance enforcement.
The minister further stressed the need for a smart traffic management solution as Ghana’s vehicle population continues to grow rapidly.
“Our roads are choked. Our traffic lights are not smart—they don’t adapt to flow, time of day, or congestion patterns. It’s chaos. And it can be fixed with tech,” he argued.
In response, officials from Google Africa revealed that the company has developed an AI-based traffic solution called Green Light, already operational in 26 countries. Green Light collects vehicle emission and movement data to program traffic lights based on real-time congestion, significantly reducing travel time and pollution.
They assured the minister that Ghana would be next in line to benefit from the technology.
As part of Ghana’s broader AI adoption agenda, Sam George also announced that President Mahama has granted approval for the entire Cabinet to undergo an intensive AI bootcamp this week.
The program, backed by the UNDP and Ghanaian academia, will equip ministers and their AI focal persons with practical knowledge of how AI can improve public service delivery. The bootcamp will also help define infrastructure needs for each ministry ahead of the 2026 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
“We’ve developed AI use cases for every ministry. These will be the KPIs for 2026. From the bootcamp, a communique will be draughted and submitted to the Finance Ministry to ensure these needs are captured in next year’s budget,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s ambitious One Million Coders Program will train the talent necessary to implement AI and digital tools across ministries, ensuring sustained capacity.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or Email: manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
