Google Invests $37M in Africa's AI and Languages; Maroc Telecom Reports Profit Drop; Ghana to Regulate Crypto
Google has announced a significant investment in Africa, committing $37 million to drive AI innovation, tackle food insecurity, and bring African languages online. Meanwhile, Maroc Telecom has reported its financials, revealing a profit drop in 2024 but growth in revenues. In Ghana, the government is taking steps to integrate and regulate cryptocurrency into its economy.
Google's investment will support AI innovation hubs across Africa, aiming to address challenges like food insecurity. It will also work to bring more African languages online. In Morocco, Maroc Telecom's full-year profit in 2024 decreased by 0.4% to 6.14 billion dirhams (~$616 million), despite a 1.2% increase in revenues to 36.7 billion dirhams (~$4.6 billion).
In Ghana, the government is preparing to license crypto exchanges starting September 2025, following the lead of Nigeria and South Africa. The new regulations will require exchanges and wallets to meet capital requirements, ensure user fund safety, and report suspicious transactions. This move signals Ghana's integration of crypto into its national economy. Maroc Telecom, meanwhile, has formed joint ventures with competitor Inwi to build out 5G and fibre networks, committing 4.4 billion dirhams (~$560 million) over three years. However, the company also faced a significant antitrust penalty, paying around 6.4 billion dirhams (~$640 million) after losing an appeal.
Google's investment in Africa's AI innovation and language inclusion is expected to boost technological advancements and digital literacy. In the telecom sector, Maroc Telecom's joint ventures with Inwi aim to enhance network infrastructure, while the company's African arm, Moov Africa, continues to grow, serving over 80 million customers across 10 countries. Ghana's crypto regulation efforts, meanwhile, are set to improve user protection and transparency, following global trends in digital currency governance.
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