By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Ghana has launched a series of stakeholder
consultations aimed at strengthening the country’s preparedness for the
responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and
Innovations in collaboration with UNESCO
and with funding support from the European Union.
The consultations form part of the implementation of UNESCO’s Artificial
Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), a global framework used to
evaluate a country’s readiness to adopt and govern AI technologies.
The first stakeholder engagement,
held on March 5, 2026, brought together representatives from ministries,
departments and agencies (MDAs) to assess Ghana’s current artificial
intelligence governance landscape. The meeting focused on gathering insights into
existing frameworks, identifying policy gaps and developing recommendations to
strengthen the country’s readiness for AI adoption.
During the session, Emmanuel Ofori emphasized the central role of
government institutions in shaping effective AI governance. He noted that
responsible, transparent and inclusive adoption of AI technologies will require
strong coordination among public sector institutions.
Representing UNESCO on behalf of Edmond Moukala, Carl
Ampah highlighted the importance of prioritizing ethical considerations
in AI development and deployment. He said artificial intelligence must be
designed and implemented in ways that benefit all members of society regardless
of race, gender or socioeconomic status.
Ampah also noted that while AI offers
significant opportunities to drive economic development and innovation, it also
carries potential risks if not managed responsibly, including the possibility
of widening social inequalities and undermining public trust.
The consultations will contribute to
the development of Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which is
expected to focus on building institutional capacity, strengthening ethical AI
governance and promoting research and innovation in the technology sector.
As part of the event, Jerry John Kponyo, Director of the Office of
Grants and Research at Kwame Nkrumah University
of Science and Technology, presented an overview of the AI Readiness
Assessment Methodology report. He outlined key areas being evaluated under the
framework, including policy and regulatory structures, infrastructure
readiness, human capital development and data governance.
Kponyo
emphasized that Ghana’s participation in the UNESCO RAM initiative will provide
a comprehensive assessment of the country’s strengths and gaps in AI adoption,
helping to guide policy decisions as the country works to position itself as a
leader in artificial intelligence development on the African continent.
