Ghana is taking a significant step towards shaping its artificial intelligence (AI) landscape with the development of the Ghana AI Practitioners’ Guide (GAIPG)—a comprehensive document that will serve as a framework for businesses, innovators, developers, and policymakers, providing guidelines for ethical AI development and implementation.
Once finalised, the document is expected to foster innovation, promote ethical AI-related practices, and facilitate the upscaling and adoption of responsible artificial intelligence technologies that are tailored to meet the needs of local practitioners and the economy.
The development of the GAIPG is being facilitated by Heritors Labs Limited—a product development house, software engineering enclave, research centre, and innovation services hub, in partnership with GIZ Ghana through the FAIR Forward Project—an initiative aligned with GIZ’s priorities in promoting digital skills, entrepreneurship, and inclusive development.
Addressing the initiative, Derrydean Dadzie, CEO of Heritors Labs, highlighted the profound impact of AI:”Artificial intelligence holds the power to redefine Ghana and Africa’s digital economy. This guide is not just about technology but about empowering government, people, businesses, civil society, and other developmental institutions to innovate responsibly. At Heritors Labs, we are committed to making this vision a reality, ensuring AI benefits all people in Ghana and across the continent.”
Speaking at a one-day workshop in Accra to gather expertise and input from stakeholders in Ghana’s tech and innovation ecosystem for the drafting of the GAIPG, Vice President of Heritors Labs, Mr Kofi Ocloo, stated:“This workshop convened policymakers, experts, and practitioners from different fields to have an open and honest conversation on how we can guide the development and use of AI in Ghana in a way that is ethical and beneficial to all, and harmful to none.”
He added:“We want to develop a guide that is consumer-centric, from the practitioners’ perspective. We cannot do this without involving everyone in the ecosystem.”
According to Mr Ocloo, artificial intelligence holds enormous potential for addressing social and economic inequalities; however, its development and implementation must be regulated and ethical.
“As digital adopters, we know that artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic idea, considering the rapid advancements in technology. The potential for bridging the social and economic divide is vast, and the GAIPG will ensure that all AI-related activities are conducted ethically and responsibly,” he added.
The GAIPG is further expected to provide a detailed overview of Ghana’s AI landscape, including stakeholders, policies, infrastructural foundations, and gaps, as well as offer actionable ethical guidelines and practical recommendations to encourage AI development and implementation in Ghana.
Mr Elikplim Sabblah, Technical Adviser for GIZ’s FAIR Forward Project, stated: “In the GAIPG, we are aiming to create a document that accurately reflects the local AI ecosystem. It is being designed by Ghana’s AI ecosystem players to ensure that it is tailored to their needs, demands, and the opportunities they can identify.”
He added: “We believe that having a centralised reference document on the country’s artificial intelligence landscape will foster collaborations that can support the development of Ghana’s domestic AI ecosystem.”
On his part, the lead consultant on the GAIPG project, Mr. William Brown-Acquaye, noted that the document will empower ecosystem players to properly harness the huge potential of artificial intelligence.
“The guide book will help to leverage Ghana’s existing technology ecosystem, serving as a one-stop-shop that centralizes all information about the industry and data sources for easy access,” he added.
Source: myjoyonline.com