Ghana’s AI journey must be driven by our realities – Brogya Genfi

Ghana's President's Adviser on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has emphasized that the country's AI journey should be rooted in the nation's unique social, economic and cultural contexts. Mr. Genfi stressed that the focus should be on AI applications that address pressing national issues, enhance public services, bolster resilience and generate tangible benefits for citizens.

Speaking at the 2nd Applied Research Conference of Accra Technical University, Genfi pointed out that while Ghana boasts a wealth of research, ideas and innovative talent, the country still grapples with converting this knowledge into practical products, services, businesses and policies that meet national needs. He lamented that Ghana's main hurdle is translating research into real-world applications.

Genfi highlighted the importance of turning research into tangible outcomes, stressing that the success of applied research is measured by its usefulness and impact. He underscored the need for research to start with clearly defined problems and move towards solutions that can be tested, refined and deployed effectively. Regarding artificial intelligence, Genfi acknowledged the opportunities brought about by its rapid advancement, particularly in areas such as national planning, public service delivery and information management.

However, he cautioned against viewing AI solely as a passing technological trend. Genfi argued that Ghana must first identify the specific problems AI should tackle and then develop or deploy technologies that are tailored to those needs. He stressed that the question shouldn't be whether Ghana needs AI, but rather whether the country is leveraging AI to improve the lives of its people.

His remarks come as Ghana is implementing its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2035, which outlines a roadmap for the responsible and inclusive development and use of AI to spur economic growth and enhance the well-being of Ghanaians. The strategy highlights data, computing infrastructure, talent development, governance and practical applications as key pillars for building Ghana's AI ecosystem.

Genfi also stressed the importance of tailoring AI systems to reflect the realities of the communities they serve. He urged universities, researchers, industry players and policymakers to collaborate in creating practical and responsible AI applications that can deliver measurable benefits to society and ensure that technological progress does not exacerbate existing inequalities.

Genfi concluded by asserting that Ghana's technological future hinges not just on how swiftly the nation adopts emerging technologies, but on how effectively it converts research and innovation into solutions for its most pressing development challenges.