Malawi has formally invited Ghana to help replicate its digital transformation success, requesting technical support and partnerships to roll out a wide range of technology-driven solutions across the country.
The request came from Malawi’s Minister of Information and Digitalization, Dr Shadric Namalomba, during a bilateral meeting with Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.
In an interview after the engagement, Sam George said the Malawian government is particularly interested in Ghanaian technology firms supporting the deployment of key systems, including fintech platforms, national digital identification, last-mile connectivity, e-government services and artificial intelligence-powered solutions.
“My colleague minister from Malawi told me his success as a minister depends on how well I am able to get Ghanaian technology businesses to deploy their solutions in Malawi,” Sam George explained.
He highlighted that Malawi is also keen to collaborate in agritech, edutech, healthtech, smart workplace systems and rural connectivity supported by reliable energy infrastructure.
The invitation reflects the growing continental recognition of Ghana’s progress in digital services and innovation-led governance. Sam George pointed to a recent visit to Zambia with President John Dramani Mahama as a successful example. During that trip, he led a delegation of 12 Ghanaian technology and fintech companies, which secured about $60 million in business deals within three days.
“Zambia was strategically chosen because of its geographic position and borders with several neighbours, including Malawi,” he said. “It can serve as a regional hub for Ghanaian digital services.”
Following the Zambia engagement, Malawi has now requested similar support. Ghana is expected to participate in Malawi’s upcoming Digital Innovation Week, with a delegation of between 15 and 20 Ghanaian technology firms set to attend to explore partnerships.
Sam George said one Ghanaian company, Bahamus, is already active in Malawi, providing broadcast monitoring systems.
In the coming months, a Malawian delegation will visit Ghana to study its digital governance framework and public sector technology systems.
The minister also shared that Ghana will provide Malawi with copies of its revised digital legislation and national AI strategy as reference materials.
Looking beyond bilateral ties, Sam George outlined a broader continental vision: exporting Ghanaian-developed technology solutions across Africa. He emphasised the need for greater regulatory alignment among African countries, including licence passporting — a system that would allow companies licensed in one nation to operate in others without separate approvals.
He noted that Zambia’s financial regulations have already been benchmarked against frameworks from the Bank of Ghana, which could simplify cross-border recognition for payment service providers and fintech firms.
Stronger harmonisation, he believes, would eventually enable African countries to conduct cross-border payments and settlements directly, without routing through external dollar-based systems.
“When we get to the point where we can trade among ourselves and settle transactions within Africa without routing them through dollar systems outside the continent,” he said, “that is when we will truly be sovereign.”
The outreach to Malawi forms part of Ghana’s growing role as a digital leader on the continent, with its fintech ecosystem, national identification system and e-government platforms attracting increasing interest from other African nations.
