Accra: Dr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, industry, and policymakers to ensure that research conducted in Ghana is translated into practical solutions for national development. He emphasized the need for the country to improve its ability to convert research outcomes from universities and laboratories into products, services, businesses, and evidence-based public policies.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Chief of Staff made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the second edition of the Applied Research Conference of Accra Technical University (ARCATU) held in Accra. The conference, themed "Applied Research and Innovation for Sustainable and Resilient Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)," gathered researchers, academics, industry practitioners, development partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the role of research and innovation in addressing national development challenges.
Dr Debrah described the conference theme as timely, highlighting that Ghana faces rapid technological advancements, climate-related challenges, population growth, and increasing pressure on public services. He emphasized the necessity of research connected to national priorities and innovation suited to local conditions. He underscored the importance of artificial intelligence, advocating for its adoption in alignment with national development objectives and responsible practices.
He pointed out the potential of AI to improve planning, enhance public service delivery, and support informed decision-making. The focus, he noted, should be on using AI to create value and improve lives, rather than merely adopting the technology. Dr Debrah also stressed the importance of developing and deploying AI systems that are fair, transparent, protect personal data, and reflect Ghana's languages, culture, and local realities.
Dr Debrah cited Ghana's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy as a crucial framework for guiding skills development, infrastructure expansion, research, innovation, data governance, and responsible AI use. He called for stronger partnerships among academia, industry, and government, suggesting that collaboration should begin at the research's early stages. Such partnerships, he argued, should involve joint research initiatives, practical training opportunities, access to facilities, and support for innovative ideas.
In a speech read on behalf of Mr Sam George, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, the government's commitment to leveraging research and development as a key driver of Ghana's digital transformation agenda was reiterated. Efforts are underway to move artificial intelligence beyond policy discussions to practical implementation over the next decade.
Professor Felix Y.H. Kutsanedzie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, urged stakeholders to harness AI and other emerging technologies through responsible, human-centred research to address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. He emphasized that the impact of artificial intelligence would largely depend on how the technology is developed and deployed, making applied research crucial for ensuring technological innovations respond to real societal needs.