MTN Ghana’s Chief Technology Innovation Officers conference has issued a dual mandate to businesses: aggressively adopt artificial intelligence while rigorously safeguarding data rights.
The Accra gathering brought together tech leaders and policymakers to navigate Africa’s AI transformation landscape, balancing innovation with ethical imperatives.
Angela Mensah-Poku, MTN Ghana’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, positioned AI adoption as non-negotiable for competitive relevance. “Digital transformation transcends technology—it demands operational reinvention,” she told attendees, urging CTIOs to strategize AI integration across business functions. Her call to action emphasized collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders to maximize AI’s potential.
Counterbalancing this push for rapid adoption, Data Protection Commission Executive Director Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo outlined regulatory guardrails. “Our mission ensures technology elevates citizens, not endangers them,” he stated, revealing Ghana’s nascent National AI Strategy. The framework prioritizes workforce upskilling, secure data portability through interoperable APIs, and certification requirements for data handlers—including third-party partners.
The conference spotlighted Ghana’s attempt to chart a middle course in AI development—stimulating enterprise innovation while preventing technological overreach. This approach mirrors broader continental efforts to establish Africa-centric digital governance models. MTN’s role as both infrastructure provider and transformation advocate positions it uniquely to shape these discussions, though critics note the telecom giant’s commercial interests in accelerated AI rollout.
As Ghanaian businesses weigh AI’s opportunities against compliance costs, the summit’s outcomes suggest an emerging consensus: sustainable digital growth requires equal investment in technical capability and ethical infrastructure. With regional peers like Nigeria and Rwanda crafting similar frameworks, Ghana’s ability to implement this balanced vision could determine its position in Africa’s unfolding AI economy. The path forward demands nuanced navigation harnessing algorithmic potential while anchoring progress in citizen-centric values.
