Ghana: Ghana's artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives are unlikely to provide significant public value or transform citizen service delivery without a strong foundational digital infrastructure, experts have stated.
According to Ghana News Agency, during the Transformation Dialogues webinar organized by the World Bank Group Ghana Country Office, the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), experts emphasized that AI is part of a broader government transformation agenda. They highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure that supports trusted data, interoperability, secure digital identities, and improved governance and human capacity.
The webinar, titled 'Digital Innovation and the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Public Sector Services,' brought together government officials, development finance experts, technologists, and policy researchers. They engaged in discussions to promote foundational thinking as a central element of Africa's digital future. The experts evaluated Ghana's current digital journey, identifying existing foundations and areas requiring development before AI can effectively enhance service delivery.
Panellists noted that Ghana possesses more foundational elements than many countries at its income level, providing a clear path forward. However, they urged the government to complete the foundational work necessary to fully leverage AI. Ms. Stela Mocan, Acting Director for Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Services at the World Bank Group, encouraged the integration of pilot programs and infrastructure, especially in public service delivery. She noted that governments globally are transitioning AI from isolated pilots to frontline public services across sectors such as digital identity, health, and tax administration, a shift that Ghana should adopt.
Ms. Mocan emphasized that value comes from investing collectively in foundational elements, rather than solely in computing or algorithms. She warned that neglecting foundational work could result in fragmented systems that fail to serve citizens effectively. She highlighted the need to sequence foundational elements with safeguards that build trust in AI, describing it as a growth and jobs agenda that lowers business costs, expands access for citizens and firms, and enhances economic competitiveness.
Mr. Solomon Kofi Richardson, Director of Technical Services at the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), acknowledged Ghana's strengths and gaps in its digital and AI journey. Ghana has established seven foundational digital pillars, including a national digital identity system, digital payments infrastructure, and government connectivity backbone. However, he pointed out issues such as interoperability, where isolated databases lead to duplicated records and fragmented connections, hindering AI's ability to utilize reliable data.
Mr. Richardson highlighted NITA's National Data Exchange Platform, designed to enable secure data sharing and provide AI systems with accurate, trusted information. He stressed the importance of continued investment in data quality, cross-agency interoperability, AI skills, responsible AI governance, and institutional change management to maximize the technology's potential.
James Stewart, Partner and Chief Technology Officer at Public Digital, underscored the importance of foundational preparation through global case studies. He cited examples from the United Kingdom and the United States, where effective AI implementation followed comprehensive preparatory work. He emphasized that AI is not an end in itself but a means to deliver simpler, faster, and more accessible services to citizens.
Bob Flyod, Director of Innovation and Digital Policy at ACET, identified three major challenges that Ghana and Africa must address for AI to deliver better outcomes: adapting AI systems to local institutional realities, ensuring quality structured data for model training, and bridging the gap in computing power available in public institutions. He called for AI literacy across the public sector, establishing cross-functional governance boards, managing workforce change, and maintaining public trust as critical components alongside infrastructure investment.