Why banks in Ghana make little use of AI for climate action decisions
Artificial intelligence could help evaluate climate protection projects more effectively and channel funding more precisely to where it is needed. Nevertheless, banks and insurance companies in Ghana have so far made very little use of the technology. A new study conducted at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) in collaboration with the Durban University of…
Ghanaian banks and insurance firms are largely avoiding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when making decisions related to climate finance, despite the technology's potential to enhance project assessment and fund allocation. A study conducted by researchers from Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) in collaboration with Durban University of Technology in South Africa reveals why AI adoption remains low in Ghana.
The study, published in Discover Sustainability, surveyed 317 employees at Ghanaian banks, insurance companies and investment firms. According to Professor Herwig Winkler, the key factor influencing AI adoption is whether respondents perceive a clear benefit and have trust in the technology. However, ease of use plays a smaller role.
Despite this, factors such as inadequate technical infrastructure, insufficient expertise and poor data quality are cited as the primary obstacles to AI adoption. Legal uncertainty and high costs also pose challenges. The researchers suggest that Ghana's financial regulator should establish clear rules for AI use in the climate sector, banks and insurance firms should provide training for staff members, and policymakers should invest in better climate data in collaboration with private partners.
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