AI Policy Corner: Analysis of Ghana’s Strategy for the Integration of AI

✍️By Efua Asamani-Baah.

Efua is an Undergraduate Student in Data Science and Applied Statistics, minoring in Sociology, as well as an Undergraduate Affiliate at the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL), Purdue University.

📌 Editor’s Note: This article is part of our AI Policy Corner series, a collaboration between the Montreal AI Ethics Institute (MAIEI) and the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) at Purdue University. The series provides concise insights into critical AI policy developments from the local to international levels, helping our readers stay informed about the evolving landscape of AI governance. This article analyzes Ghana’s approach to using AI to promote development and innovation within the country, as well as the possible challenges that may arise.

In October 2022, Ghana released a comprehensive strategy for the use and integration of Artificial Intelligence in the country. The primary goals of this strategy are for Artificial Intelligence to facilitate advancements across all sectors by the year 2033 and for Ghana to become a leader in the Artificial Intelligence field. The document also notes the importance of deploying Artificial Intelligence ethically, with a strong emphasis on ensuring this through governance.

Potential Benefits

The strategy highlights several ways in which the development of Artificial Intelligence can be beneficial for Ghana. For instance, Artificial Intelligence can help alleviate structural inequalities in the healthcare system by using predictive modeling to identify at-risk patients, and deploying drones to deliver medicine to those living in rural areas.

Artificial Intelligence can also allow for the development of a smart electricity grid. This would enable the optimization of power distribution routes to minimize losses along power lines. Artificial Intelligence would also make it possible to analyze power demand, so that electricity is distributed efficiently, and power outages are avoided. With hundreds of millions of dollars lost each year because of power outages, this would significantly benefit the Ghanaian economy.

Hurdles

Ghana faces several hurdles in its development of Artificial Intelligence, and the proposed strategy offers solutions to many of these challenges. One significant obstacle is the accessibility of the internet, especially in rural areas, where only 41% of people have access to 4G compared to 88% in urban areas. The strategy proposes establishing inclusive educational programs that help those in rural areas to develop technical skills. This would be coupled with the development of a national cloud infrastructure. Although partnerships with entities such as Huawei have helped reduce the cost of this ongoing development, this may still prove to be expensive for the country.

Another hurdle is the technical gender gap. In Ghana, women statistically have less access to the internet than men, and are underrepresented in technical fields. Much of this is due to limited access to resources, especially for women in rural areas. Societal expectations also play a role, as women are often expected to take on more traditional gender roles. The article acknowledges that the lack of women’s involvement can result in more biased Artificial Intelligence models. To address this, the strategy proposes establishing programs that focus on developing the technical skills of women.

The strategy also acknowledges the broader ethical concerns that may arise with the continued growth of Artificial Intelligence, requiring the implementation of effective governance mechanisms. Therefore, the strategy suggests the establishment of a Responsible Artificial Intelligence Office. This office would be responsible for implementing the strategy and coordinating with relevant stakeholders. It would also participate in international governance efforts through organizations such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. This approach is similar to that of Egypt, with Egypt being referenced multiple times in the article.

Main Takeaway

The implementation of the strategy will require the development of strong infrastructure and systemic changes within Ghana. Successful implementation could greatly benefit the country and serve to accelerate development across various sectors.

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Image credit: Ifeoluwa A. on Unsplash