Ghana committed to developing AI to enhance lives across various sectors - Dr Nafisa Mahama

The Director of the Information Services Department at the Ministry of Information, Dr. Nafisa Mahama, has stated that Ghana, as a strong advocate for digital rights on the African continent, is firmly committed to developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for empowerment and enhancing lives across various sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and industry.

Dr. Mahama made this known in her address during the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Ministerial side event at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, according to myjoyonline.com.

Despite Ghana’s strong commitment towards the development of AI, she said the West African nation was also aware that, without responsible governance, AI may pose threats to human rights.

She therefore observed the need for ethical frameworks that govern the development and deployment of AI in line with global human rights standards.

In alignment with the principles highlighted by the UN General Assembly’s first resolution on AI, she disclosed that Ghana was actively developing a comprehensive AI governance framework.

She said the AI governance framework being developed includes innovative approaches such as an AI-enhanced Online Application System designed to facilitate public access to information across all government sectors, adding that such initiatives reflect Ghana’s belief that AI must be used to foster inclusive governance and empower citizens.

She said Ghana was partnering with international stakeholders to provide Advanced AI Prompt Engineering training for public relations officers across government institutions, adding that "This training equips our officers with the necessary tools to leverage AI effectively for information dissemination and innovation. By doing so, we are ensuring that AI enhances public service delivery and strengthens transparency."

According to her, Ghana’s ongoing investments in AI, rooted in ethical considerations and human rights, are positioning it as a leader in the responsible and innovative use of AI, saying "by working together as a global community, we can harness AI’s potential to promote human development, prosperity, and respect for human rights."

Meanwhile, as a member of FOC, Dr. Mahama emphasized that Ghana remains committed to open governance and accountability.

She said, “The Coalition, now comprising 40 governments, is instrumental in advancing digital rights, and we are proud to contribute to this important work.”

She recounted that in 2019, Ghana enacted the Right to Information Law to empower its citizens with access to public information, thereby promoting accountability and citizen participation in governance.

AE