Mandatory Certification Stifles Tech Innovation

This provision requires certification for all emerging technologies (AI, cloud, quantum computing, big data, blockchain) without defining what certification means, who needs it, or what exemptions exist. Combined with 23's criminal penalties (up to 5 years imprisonment) for operating without accreditation, this creates a mandatory pre-market approval regime that blocks experimentation and market entry. Unlike democratic precedents (EU AI Act), there are no exemptions for research, non-commercial use, or small providers—and no procedural safeguards, transparency requirements, or appeal mechanisms. This grants the Authority unconstrained gatekeeping power over Ghana's digital economy, creating insurmountable barriers for startups and researchers while established players absorb compliance costs.