Ghana has made an important step toward guaranteeing the ethical and equitable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by launching the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).
The event, funded by the European Commission through UNESCO, brought together representatives from government ministries, academia, civil society, and the corporate sector to explore the country’s AI landscape and governance mechanisms.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to developing and implementing AI in a safe, inclusive, and transparent manner in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of ICT, Dr Samuel Antwi Gyekyi.
He emphasized AI’s potential to accelerate progress toward the SDGs, enhance healthcare, and support climate action, while also addressing its concerns, such as bias, privacy infringement, and job displacement.
The UNESCO RAM will assist Ghana in assessing its readiness to deploy AI, including its institutions, regulatory frameworks, skills base, and infrastructure. The review will help shape Ghana’s National AI Strategy and identify potential for improved AI governance mechanisms.
Carl Ampah, speaking on behalf of Edmond Moukala, UNESCO Representative in Ghana, underlined the relevance of ethics in AI development, emphasizing the necessity to maintain fairness and avoid biases in AI systems.
He stated that AI has the ability to alter many sectors, including healthcare, education, culture, and governance, but its development must be based on human rights and principles.
The RAM is a comprehensive framework for assessing a country’s ability to integrate AI in a sustainable and ethical manner, taking into account variables such as regulatory environment, technical infrastructure, human resources, and societal impact.
Emmanuel Ofori, Director of Innovations at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, emphasized the importance of aligning national AI strategies with global ethical standards and encouraging collaboration among government, industry, academia, and civil society to create a trustworthy AI ecosystem.
Source: newsthemegh.com