KNUST and French Embassy mark one year of AI4SD project in Accra
Date: 2026-02-16
By: Robert Kwaku Annor
The
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the French
Embassy in Ghana have marked the first anniversary of the Artificial
Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project at the Alliance
Française.
The
AI4SD project, which commenced in November 2024, is funded by the French
Embassy, with KNUST serving as the implementing partner. The anniversary event
convened officials from the Embassy, academic collaborators, and project
partners to review progress and assess the initiative’s impact.
Project
Lead at KNUST, Jerry John Kponyo, expressed appreciation to the French Embassy
for its continued support. He highlighted the relevance of Sustainable
Development Goal 17, which emphasises partnerships for development, describing
AI4SD as a practical example of how cross-institutional collaboration can
advance innovation and global development objectives.
Prof.
Kponyo also acknowledged the contributions of KNUST’s leadership, the Embassy,
and the project’s technical partners.
The
Ambassador of France to Ghana, Diarra Dimé Labille, noted that the project
reflects the strengthening relationship between France and Ghana. She stated
that AI4SD forms part of France’s broader commitment to promoting digital
innovation and responsible artificial intelligence.
She
further emphasised the project’s gender inclusion efforts, citing initiatives
such as the SheCodes programme, which seeks to expand opportunities for young
women in technology. According to the Ambassador, gender inclusivity remains
essential to fostering innovation that is both effective and socially relevant.
Representing
technical partner Université Paris-Saclay, Daniel Adjei commended KNUST for the
progress achieved within the project’s first year.
As
part of the commemoration, the AI4SD team from KNUST showcased several
innovations developed under the initiative, highlighting the project’s
practical contributions to applied artificial intelligence and sustainable
development.
