Ghana has taken a significant step towards ensuring the responsible and inclusive deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the launch of the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).
The event, sponsored by the European Commission through UNESCO, brought together stakeholders from government ministries, academia, civil society, and the private sector to discuss the country’s AI landscape and governance systems.
Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director for ICT, Dr Samuel Antwi Gyekyi emphasized Ghana’s commitment to developing and deploying AI in a safe, inclusive, and transparent manner.
He highlighted the potential of AI to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, improve healthcare, and support climate action, while also acknowledging the risks associated with AI, such as bias, privacy violations, and job displacement.
The UNESCO RAM will help Ghana evaluate its readiness to adopt AI, assessing its institutions, regulatory systems, skills base, and infrastructure. The assessment will inform the development of Ghana’s National AI Strategy and provide opportunities for designing stronger AI governance structures.
Speaking at the launch, Carl Ampah on behalf of Edmond Moukala, UNESCO Representative to Ghana, emphasized the importance of ethics in AI development, highlighting the need to ensure fairness and prevent biases in AI systems.
He noted that AI has the potential to transform various sectors, including healthcare, education, culture and governance, but its development must be grounded in human rights and values.
The RAM is a comprehensive framework designed to assess a country’s preparedness for integrating AI sustainably and ethically, examining dimensions such as policy environment, technical infrastructure, human resources, and societal impact.
The Director of Innovations, Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Emmanuel Ofori highlighted the importance of aligning national AI strategies with global ethical standards, fostering collaboration between government, industry, academia, and civil society to build a trustworthy AI ecosystem.
