The Accra Digital Centre project was started in 2011 under the rule of President John Dramani Mahama and was financed with a total amount of $8.3 million by the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation.
It is a collection of 12 old warehouses of the Public Works Department, which have been renovated with each of the buildings occupying 735 square metres. It makes a total of 8,820 square metres.
Inauguration
The Accra Digital Center is one of the Government’s initiatives to create opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurial employment for young Ghanaians as it is estimated to provide 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
President Mahama during the inauguration of the centre said that for the reforms that “but for the reforms that were carried out in the telecommunication sector between 1996 and 1998, internet penetration would have remained minimal in the country”.
“The Accra Digital Centre will boost job creation and enhance the drive for knowledge-led socio-economic growth and put Information, Communication Technology skills for self-sufficiency,” President Mahama added.
Programmes
The Accra Digital Centre run training programs focusing on enhancing entrepreneurial, innovation and technological skills. Regular investor Pitch Events to provide entrepreneurs and start-Ups access to funding.
Long-term programs aimed at helping startups develop their proof of concept and commercialize their innovations with 6-month training and business development programme with seed funding to enable startups to grow.
Opportunities for incubatees and entrepreneurs to visit accomplished local and foreign businesses, Hubs and Universities to learn best practices as well as to network and run training programs focusing on enhancing entrepreneurial, innovation and technological skills.
Products and Partners
The centre has fully equipped conference and meeting rooms for business meetings, events & training. State-of-the-art commercial Office space with Plug & Play infrastructure, commercial office space for ICT/ITES Businesses, Customizable to tenant’s own needs. A host of advantages include a Facilities Management System that ensures optimal functionality of the structures including drainage, sewage and water networks. Complete Ecosystem of infrastructure and support services.
It also has a Mobile Applications Laboratory (mLab) and an Innovation Hub (iHub) to nurture Tech Startups. This is aimed at promoting digital entrepreneurship and creating digital jobs for the youth. A Co-working spaces/office suites, virtual offices for rent. Business Development training programmes for start-ups and other companies. Assistance with transforming ideas into businesses.
The Accra Digital Center works under the auspices of the Ministry of Communication and Digitization, Ghana Digital Centers Limited, Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications and is also a partner of the World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation.
