Ghana’s accelerating integration of artificial intelligence into its economy faces pivotal challenges around data governance and environmental sustainability, IT strategist Eric Appiah cautioned during a recent interview.
While AI adoption shows promise in sectors from agriculture to finance, the absence of robust privacy laws and reliance on carbon-intensive energy threaten long-term viability, he argued.
Appiah, a cybersecurity specialist who has advised Ghanaian firms and international bodies, highlighted widespread mishandling of sensitive data as organizations rush to deploy AI tools. “Sharing customer information via third-party platforms exposes Ghanaians to breaches we’re ill-equipped to contain,” he said, referencing incidents where unencrypted health and financial records were uploaded to cloud-based AI systems.
Deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation further compound risks. With Ghana’s 2024 elections saw a 300% spike in manipulated media, per the Electoral Commission, Appiah urged media outlets to adopt verification protocols used by global fact-checking coalitions.
Despite concerns, Appiah outlined transformative potential: fintech firms now use AI to cut mobile money fraud by 40%, while agritech startups deploy computer vision to detect crop diseases early. The government’s planned AI Summit in March 2025 aims to catalyze such innovations, though critics note only 12% of local AI ventures currently comply with draft ethical guidelines published last year.
“Growth cannot outpace governance,” Appiah stressed, advocating for laws mandating transparency in AI training data and algorithmic decision-making. He pointed to Nigeria’s 2023 AI Code of Practice as a regional model, which requires impact assessments for high-risk applications.
Addressing environmental concerns, Appiah emphasized Ghana’s untapped solar potential to offset AI’s energy demands. Training a single large language model can emit 300,000 kg of CO₂—equivalent to 60 gasoline-powered cars driven annually. “Pairing AI hubs with renewable microgrids isn’t optional; it’s existential,” he said, citing pilot projects by Kumasi-based startup.
The Ministry of Energy’s 2024 plan to expand solar capacity to 500 MW by 2026 could support this transition, though none is currently allocated for tech infrastructure.
With the AI Summit expected to draw 1,500 participants, Appiah called for enforceable partnerships between regulators, firms, and academia. “Universities must lead in developing local AI solutions that retain data sovereignty,” he said, noting that 89% of Ghana’s AI tools rely on foreign platforms.
As Ghana navigates these challenges, its approach may set precedents for emerging economies balancing innovation with equity. “Get this right,” Appiah concluded, “and we chart a course where technology elevates rather than exploits.”
