ACCRA – The Government of Ghana will invest $250 million to establish a world-class artificial intelligence computing centre, with an additional $20 million committed to support the short to medium-term implementation of the country’s National AI Strategy, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025-2035), the President described the investment as bold but necessary, arguing that AI cannot thrive without the infrastructure to support it.

“Data, computing power, connectivity and energy are now as strategic to the digital age as roads, ports, railways and power plants were to earlier eras of development,” Mahama said.

He added that the government was taking deliberate steps to strengthen the national data centre and ensure the country’s digital backbone was secure, resilient and capable of supporting growing AI demands.

The proposed AI Computing Centre, the President explained, would serve as a hub for research, innovation and enterprise, equipping Ghanaian talent with the tools to build solutions not only for Ghana but for the wider African continent.

Measurable Targets and Accountability

Mahama said the scale of the investment reflected the seriousness with which the government was approaching the AI agenda, emphasising that transformation must be measurable, accountable and results-oriented rather than merely rhetorical.

To that end, the government has introduced key performance indicators across ministries, departments and agencies to drive measurable adoption and integration of AI across the public sector.

Call for Partnerships

The President acknowledged, however, that government alone could not build a thriving AI ecosystem. He called on academia, civil society, industry and development partners to join the effort.

“To those who have yet to join this effort, I extend an invitation to partner with us in implementing this strategy,” Mahama said. “Invest in Ghanaian talent, support Ghanaian innovation, work with us to build an AI future anchored in inclusion, shared prosperity and African relevance.”

One Million Coders Programme and Curriculum Reform

The financial commitments come alongside Ghana’s One Million Coders programme, which has already processed over 100,000 applications. The programme is targeting the training of at least 300,000 Ghanaians this year across more than 15 courses in 10 disciplines.

The government also plans to introduce AI coding, robotics and electronics at the basic school level following a curriculum review expected to be completed by the end of June 2026.

Vision for 2035

By 2035, President Mahama said, the ambition is to have built a national AI ecosystem that expands literacy and access, strengthens jobs and entrepreneurship, supports local innovation, deepens data sovereignty, and improves public service performance.

The announcement positions Ghana as one of the largest public investors in AI infrastructure in West Africa, competing with regional peers such as Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, which have also signalled interest in AI development.

A California ride-share driver advocacy group filed a complaint Monday, April 20, 2026, in state court against Uber Technologies, Inc., alleging the company violated Proposition 22 and should be barred from classifying its drivers as independent contractors.

Rideshare Drivers United (RDU), a California nonprofit representing more than 20,000 app-based drivers in the state, claimed Uber breached the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Act, as amended by 2020’s Proposition 22.

Allegations in the Complaint

The complaint alleges that Uber:

• Terminates drivers on grounds not specified in their contracts
• Fails to provide a meaningful appeals process for deactivated drivers
• Prohibits drivers from declining rides based on customer location or the presence of a service animal
• Withholds sufficient earnings information for drivers to verify they are receiving required compensation

Legal Argument and Requested Relief

RDU, represented by attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan of Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., argues that because Uber has not complied with Proposition 22, the company cannot invoke its independent contractor protections.

The suit seeks a court declaration that Uber is disqualified from asserting its drivers are independent contractors. Such a ruling would expose Uber to misclassification claims under the California Labor Code.

Background on Proposition 22

Proposition 22 passed in November 2020 after a coalition of gig companies spent more than $220 million on the campaign. Uber alone spent more than $50 million supporting the measure.

The measure exempted app-based transportation and delivery companies from Assembly Bill 5, which had codified the state’s ABC test for employee classification.

The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 22’s constitutionality in Castellanos v. State of California in July 2024.

Case Status

The case has no trial date. Uber has not publicly responded to the complaint.

Atlanta, USA – A young Black inventor from Atlanta, Julian Brown, has stunned the scientific community and gone viral worldwide after developing a backyard process that converts everyday plastic waste into usable diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel.

Born in Tennessee and raised in Atlanta, Brown — a self-taught welder with no formal degree or laboratory — created a system called “Plastoline.”

Using an upgraded form of pyrolysis (a thermal decomposition process), enhanced with microwaves and solar energy for cleaner conversion, he built a small reactor capable of turning discarded plastics back into high-quality fuel.

Independent tests reportedly confirmed that the diesel and gasoline produced are among the most refined seen, and he has successfully powered vehicles with the fuel in live demonstrations.

Brown launched a startup called Nature Jab and began sharing his experiments on Instagram and TikTok, where the videos quickly gained millions of views globally. Despite suffering second-degree burns in a reactor explosion, he refused to abandon the project.

He attempted to raise $1 million to scale the technology but secured only tens of thousands of dollars. In July 2025, he posted that he was under attack before temporarily vanishing from public view.

He has since re-emerged, with supporters calling for his protection and greater investment in his work.

The innovation has sparked particular excitement across Africa, where plastic waste accumulates in massive quantities in landfills and communities.

Experts say Brown’s technology could offer a practical solution for turning waste into energy, addressing both environmental pollution and fuel shortages on the continent.

Commentators have criticised the lack of substantial support from investors and the broader community, questioning why a breakthrough with such transformative potential, especially from a young Black inventor, has not received wider backing.