African gov’ts urged to rethink investment in national cloud data centers

Accra, Ghana — As Gabon embarks on the construction of a new national data center within its Nkok Special Economic Zone, digital policy experts and tech stakeholders are calling on African governments to reconsider the long-term value and sustainability of such large-scale infrastructure projects.

Citing Ghana’s experience as a cautionary example, industry analysts point to the $47 million national data center constructed over a decade ago in Accra, which has since fallen into underutilization and now reportedly requires major maintenance and security upgrades.

“Building data centers for the sake of sovereignty is a noble idea on the surface, but it often leads to misplaced priorities, especially when global cloud providers offer more secure, cost-effective, and scalable solutions,” one expert said.

The Case Against Reinventing the Wheel

African governments continue to announce national cloud initiatives meant to enhance digital sovereignty, improve local service delivery, and reduce dependence on foreign infrastructure. However, critics argue that these projects often:

• Lack proper long-term funding and technical oversight;
• Struggle to remain up-to-date with fast-evolving cloud standards;
• Fail to attract sufficient demand from local businesses and institutions;
• Divert vital funds away from essential areas like digital education, cybersecurity, and broadband access.
• Security and Sovereignty: Not Mutually Exclusive

While Gabon’s new facility promises a sovereign cloud platform and shared services for healthcare, finance, education, and government, experts argue that sovereignty should be achieved through policy and data governance, not necessarily physical infrastructure.

“The misconception that owning a server equals control over data is dangerous. Without top-tier cybersecurity and consistent updates, a national data center can easily become a liability.”

A Call for Smarter Partnerships

Rather than pursuing isolated, expensive infrastructure, governments are being encouraged to:

• Partner with trusted global cloud providers that now operate in Africa;
• Establish strong legal and regulatory frameworks to safeguard data;
• Invest in digital skills training and cybersecurity;
• Create incentives for local startups to build on secure global platforms.

Looking Ahead

The future of Africa’s digital transformation lies not in duplicating what the global tech giants already do better and more efficiently, but in forming smart partnerships, ensuring regulatory clarity, and investing in people. With finite public resources, African governments must choose pragmatism over pride and focus on solutions that deliver real impact at scale.

By: Amofa Baffoe