The two-day forum, organised by AlphaVecta Technologies Limited and endorsed by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, brings together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies and diplomatic partners to examine how Ghana and the wider continent can move from discussions about AI to implementation.
Opening the forum, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George said AI adoption must be built around trust, strong regulation and local capacity, with the technology deployed to improve human productivity rather than replace workers.
He said government is training public-sector directors in AI efficiency and plans to establish clear standards across ministries, departments and agencies as the technology becomes increasingly integrated into public services.
“AI is not meant to replace human beings. It is meant to move us to a higher level of functionality and effectiveness. This means training people, clear rules, systems and hard standards in every ministry, department and agency is non-negotiable,” he said.
Mr. George also challenged companies, investors and educational institutions to create tangible opportunities for young people receiving technology training, arguing that workforce development must translate into jobs, internships, apprenticeships and business opportunities.
He urged companies to recruit from the One Million Coders talent pipeline, partner universities and TVET institutions, invest beyond Accra and procure locally developed AI solutions where they meet required standards.
“Training without opportunity is just a statistic. A trained coder with a job, internship or client is the workforce that builds Ghana’s future,” he said.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaVecta Technologies Carlos Amoako said businesses should adopt AI to address specific operational challenges rather than simply following a global technology trend.
He said companies should identify areas where AI can generate measurable productivity gains, citing recruitment as an example. An organisation receiving thousands of CVs each week could use AI to reduce a screening process that takes weeks to a few hours.
“It should be really targeted. If you identify a problem, solve that problem and then you can move on,” Mr. Amoako said.
Economic Policy Advisor at the Office of the President Seth Emmanuel Terkper said the public sector must also modernise its existing digital infrastructure if government is to fully benefit from advances in AI.
AI technologies are developing faster than some legacy government systems, creating a need for public institutions to upgrade the platforms through which information, services and transactions are delivered, he said.
Mr. Terkper cited revenue administration and weather forecasting as areas where AI and related technologies are already generating useful information. However, he said such systems must be effectively linked to ministries and local authorities to ensure the insights generated translate into decisions and action.
The government is also developing standards to ensure AI systems deployed in sensitive areas including health, education, finance, employment and public services remain reliable, secure and subject to human accountability.
The forum concludes on Wednesday, September 9, with the finale of the Execute Africa AI Challenge Hackathon, where finalist teams will pitch their solutions before judges and delegates. The winning team is expected to be announced at the event. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
