Accra: Mr Abdul-Mumin Sofo Yumzaa, Executive Director of Simba Ghana, an NGO, has raised concerns over Ghana's preparedness to effectively implement its newly launched National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy. He said although the strategy marked an important step towards positioning the country within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, existing institutional weaknesses could undermine its impact if not urgently addressed.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Yumzaa made the remarks in an interview following the official launch of the policy by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations. He pointed to the demonstration of the 'Aku AI' chatbot during the launch, describing it as reflective of broader challenges within the public sector's approach to innovation. He noted that, despite being presented as a functional AI tool capable of interacting in local languages, the system's ability to respond in real time was questionable.
Mr Yumzaa emphasised that Ghana's challenges in artificial intelligence were not due to a lack of technical expertise but rather institutional delays in adopting and integrating emerging technologies. He observed that private sector actors and academic institutions in Ghana were already deploying advanced AI solutions across various sectors. Examples include Farmerline, where farmers accessed voice-based weather information in local languages, and mPharma, which used AI systems to predict drug stock shortages. At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), students were applying advanced AI models in medical imaging, including liver ultrasound analysis.
Mr Yumzaa contrasted Ghana's progress with countries such as Rwanda and Senegal, which adopted national AI frameworks earlier and had since integrated the technology into their broader development agenda. Despite the concerns, he acknowledged that the National AI Strategy presented significant opportunities for Ghana if implemented effectively. He highlighted access to public sector data as a critical area, noting that institutions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) held valuable datasets that could drive innovation.
He identified government procurement as a potential driver of growth within the AI ecosystem and noted that the planned adoption of AI across more than 100 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from 2026 could create a substantial market for local technology firms. However, Mr Yumzaa cautioned against policy and regulatory risks that could hinder progress, pointing to the proposed Emerging Technologies Bill, which sought to regulate AI, robotics, and blockchain. He warned that excessive controls could stifle innovation.
Moreover, he warned against the state competing directly with private sector developers by building its own AI systems instead of procuring solutions from local firms. On infrastructure, he expressed concern about possible data localisation requirements, which could increase operational costs for startups and limit their competitiveness beyond Ghana. Mr Yumzaa emphasised that the success of the National AI Strategy would depend on practical implementation rather than symbolic initiatives. He called for the release of anonymised public datasets, prioritisation of locally developed solutions in procurement, and balanced regulation focused on addressing risks such as bias, privacy breaches, and misinformation.