{"id":102722,"date":"2025-11-10T20:05:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=102722"},"modified":"2025-11-10T20:05:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:05:03","slug":"ghana-hosts-maiden-africa-education-trust-fund-artificial-intelligence-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=102722","title":{"rendered":"Ghana hosts maiden Africa Education Trust Fund Artificial Intelligence Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ghana has hosted the maiden edition of the Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference, bringing together ministers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and investors to chart a new course for Africa\u2019s digital future. <\/p>\n

The Conference, organised by the Africa Education Trust Fund (AETF) at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on November 5, 2025, was held under the theme \u201cAI for Africa: Unlocking Opportunities for Education, Innovation, and Sustainable Development.\u201d<\/p>\n

The landmark conference featured exhibitions of AI-powered innovations in education, agriculture, health, and governance. It marked a pivotal moment in the continent\u2019s technological evolution \u2014 one focused on ensuring that Africa defines its own path in the AI era.<\/p>\n

\"Ghana<\/figure>\n

The various speakers explored topics such as: Education and AI Governance; Academia Industry Linkage, AI and How To Achieve The Pan African Vision Outlined in Agenda 2063; Business, Finance and AI; AI for Smart Urbanisation: The Rise of New African Cities; Discovering and Promoting Africa\u2019s Young Innovators, among others.<\/p>\n

Strategic Action<\/p>\n

In a speech delivered on his behalf, Ghana\u2019s Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, called for decisive and strategic action to position Ghana as the Artificial Intelligence hub of Africa, emphasising that AI represents a historic opportunity for education, innovation, and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theme \u2018AI for Africa: Unlocking Opportunities for Education, Innovation, and Sustainable Development\u2019 is both timely and imperative,\u201d he said. \u201cCountries that harness AI are already seeing gains in learning outcomes, health system efficiency, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ghana<\/figure>\n

Mr. Debrah noted that \u201cArtificial Intelligence (AI) has caught everyone\u2019s attention because of its speed of enablement and disruption, embedding itself in our daily lives. It is shaping our classrooms, our farms, our hospitals, and our economies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citing continental examples, he explained that \u201cin Mali, AI tools are translating books into local languages, making learning more inclusive,\u201d while \u201cin Kenya, AI is bridging the gap for deaf students through sign language translation technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

He further highlighted Ghana\u2019s domestic commitment to the AI agenda, announcing the development of a National AI Strategy and initiatives such as the \u2018One Million Coders\u2019 programme to empower young Ghanaians with practical digital skills.<\/p>\n

However, he cautioned that \u201cthe full potential of AI will not be realised with passive efforts,\u201d urging investments in education reform, inclusive national AI strategies, and robust data ecosystems. \u201cThe future of AI in Africa is not a question of possibility but a question of purpose. Let us unlock the full potential of AI for every child in every classroom, for every farmer in every field, for every patient in every clinic,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

Africa Must Feed Its Voice into Global AI<\/p>\n

The Chairman of the AETF, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, described AI as \u201ca new frontier \u2014 one Africa cannot afford to miss.\u201d He cautioned that if Africa fails to act swiftly, \u201cour voices will be absent from the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ghana<\/figure>\n

He stressed that \u201cthe real opportunity lies in data and applications,\u201d urging African nations to focus on practical, results-driven projects that directly improve lives. \u201cIt is wiser to start small \u2014 with clear, results-driven initiatives \u2014 than to chase grand but distant projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Spio-Garbrah praised Ghana\u2019s $50 million Innovation Fund as \u201ca promising step,\u201d and revealed that the AETF aims \u201cto build on such models to create a multi-billion-dollar platform for Africa\u2019s digital transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He further urged the continent to reshape its narrative: \u201cLet us reshape the narrative \u2014 from a continent of limitation to one of limitless potential. Africa is not just a user of technology; we are the next frontier of innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ga Mantse<\/p>\n

The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in a speech read on his behalf, made a passionate call for AI development rooted in African values and realities.<\/p>\n

\"Ghana<\/figure>\n

\u201cThe future of AI in Africa is not about machines. It is about our people, the people of Africa,\u201d he said. \u201cArtificial intelligence can transform how we learn, how we farm, how we heal, and how we govern, but only if it is filled with our values, our realities, and our people at its center. AI must work for Africa, and not merely on Africa,\u201d the Ga Mantse, who chaired the conference, said.<\/p>\n

He further urged African nations to move from being consumers of foreign technology to becoming creators and innovators, shaping their own technological destiny.<\/p>\n

Legal Frameworks<\/p>\n

Ghana\u2019s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, announced that the government is developing an Emerging Technologies Bill to provide a legal foundation for AI, Blockchain, and quantum computing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is not just digital transformation but a restoration of Africa\u2019s technological sovereignty,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce consultations and cabinet approvals are complete, the Emerging Technologies Bill will be laid before Parliament, hopefully next year. It will serve as the legal and regulatory basis for responsible innovation across AI and other emerging fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

He emphasized that AI innovation in Africa must be \u201cguided by ethics, inclusivity, and cultural identity,\u201d reaffirming government\u2019s commitment to responsible technological advancement through \u201clegal, ethical, and traditional frameworks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, Mr. Edmond Moukala, urged African countries to integrate AI responsibly and inclusively. \u201cAI can fuel local innovation ecosystems, enabling African researchers, developers, and startups to create context-specific solutions that address the continent\u2019s unique challenges and capitalize on its abundant opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Founder and CEO of Margins ID Group, Mr. Moses Baiden, stressed that African nations need the political will to embed AI in \u201cevery facet of our lives,\u201d emphasizing that educating African youth for AI participation is the most important decision Africa can make in the digital era.<\/p>\n

Mr. Bright Simons, CEO of mPedigree, called for the discovery and promotion of Africa\u2019s young innovators, describing them as key drivers of the continent\u2019s digital revolution.<\/p>\n

Ghana\u2019s Minister of Sports, Mr. Kofi Adams, added that the time to make decisions to ensure that Africa becomes the future of technology and advancement is now. Africa cannot choose to stay behind while other people make decisions about how the world is run.<\/p>\n

Defining Africa\u2019s Digital Future<\/p>\n

The AETF AI Conference served as a platform for collaboration between government, academia, and industry, exploring how AI can transform education, finance, agribusiness, energy, and governance \u2014 while creating pathways for Africa\u2019s youth to thrive in the global economy.<\/p>\n

At the close of the event, participants echoed a unified vision:
Africa\u2019s digital transformation must be led by Africans, powered by ethical AI, and driven by education, innovation, and inclusion.<\/p>\n

Sponsors and Partners<\/p>\n

The sponsors and partners of the conference were:
Margins ID Group, ONESTA, Intelligent Card Production Systems, Glico, Minerals Income Investment Fund, Fidelity Bank, GCB, Bank of Ghana, College of Sustainable Transformation and Development.<\/p>\n

About AETF<\/p>\n

The Africa Education Trust Fund (AETF) was established through collaboration between the Association of African Universities (AAU), the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), and the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS). It seeks to strengthen cooperation in education, trade, and investment across Africa under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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