Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, unveils the new centre and urges it to drive West Africa’s digital transformation

Ghana’s Chief of Staff Julius Debrah with the UESTC and GIMPA delegations at the unveiling of the Centre for West African Studies for Digital Public Governance (CWAS), Accra, June 1, 2026.

ACCRA, Ghana — June 1, 2026 — The Centre for West African Studies for Digital Public Governance (CWAS), jointly established by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), was officially inaugurated in Accra. Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah unveiled the centre and witnessed the signing of a partnership between the two universities. The ceremony was held during a thanksgiving service marking GIMPA’s 65th anniversary, under the theme “A Legacy of Excellence, A Future of Digital Transformation”.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Debrah urged GIMPA and its partners to leverage research and innovation to drive digital transformation. “We are living through a period of rapid digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, digital financial systems, and e-governance are reshaping how economies grow, how governments deliver services, and how citizens participate in public life,” he said, adding that “West Africa must not be a passive bystander in that transformation.”

The government, he said, regards the centre — established through the UESTC–GIMPA partnership — as a strategic institution that will support Ghana’s digital agenda and position West Africa as a producer of knowledge and innovation rather than merely a consumer of global ideas. “Let the work of this Centre find its way into policy, into Parliament, and into the planning offices of West African governments. That is the measure of a think tank that truly serves,” he said. Noting that the partnership brings together UESTC’s expertise in electronic science and technology and GIMPA’s strength in public administration and governance, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to knowledge-driven development, citing the allocation of GHS 33.3 billion to education in the 2026 Budget.

At the event, GIMPA and UESTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Digital Public Governance Hub at GIMPA, which is expected to become the largest of its kind in West Africa. According to UESTC’s news programme Chengdian Morning News (June 6, 2026), the partnership will also advance a joint China–Ghana digital governance laboratory, deliver training in China for Ghanaian ministerial-level officials, and work to elevate the collaboration into a national-level platform for international cooperation. The UESTC delegation included representatives from its School of Public Affairs and Administration, West Africa Research Center, and International Office, together with Mr. Tang Hong, President of the UESTC West Africa Alumni Association.

Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, Rector of GIMPA, said the hub would serve as a central platform for collecting and analysing governance data across Africa to support evidence-based decision-making. “Many of our governments do not have the requisite data to make effective decisions. We want to mobilise data effectively for use by governments and other institutions to improve development outcomes,” he said. He added that the infrastructure needs had been defined and that GIMPA was working closely with its Chinese partners to extend the project across the continent, with implementation expected to begin within the next few months and the hub fully operational within a year.

About GIMPA

Established on June 1, 1961, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) is a public tertiary institution mandated to build leadership, governance, and public sector management capacity. Over the years it has expanded into business, law, technology, and social sciences while maintaining its core role in public administration training.

About the UESTC West Africa Research Center

The West Africa Research Center of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) supports China’s engagement with Africa and advances international cooperation in area and country studies. It carries out academic collaboration, joint talent training, and digital-health cooperation — including the “Healthy Ghana” programme — across Ghana, Benin, Togo, and other West African countries.

Media references: Ghana News Agency (GNA) / GhanaWeb; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC); UESTC Chengdian Morning News (June 6, 2026).

Issued by the UESTC West Africa Research Center.