TLDR: Experts in Ghana are urgently calling for the government to establish comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies to prevent digital anarchy and leverage AI for economic growth and national security. Concerns include foreign control of critical data, lack of transparency in AI systems, algorithmic bias, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Without these policies, Ghana risks lagging in the global technological race and exacerbating existing inequalities.
Ghana is at a critical juncture, facing the potential for “digital anarchy” if it fails to implement robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies, according to leading experts. The urgent call for action comes as African nations, including Ghana, grapple with the rapid deployment of AI technologies in governance and various productive sectors.
Professor Quist-Aphetsi Kester, Dean of the School of Computational Sciences at Dominion University College (DUC), emphasized the necessity for Ghana to position itself as a leader in AI adoption within the sub-region. Speaking at the maiden Media AI Conference in Accra on August 4, 2025, Professor Kester warned that without integrating AI into governance and industry, and without safeguarding its data resources, Ghana risks falling behind in the global technological race. A significant concern highlighted was the foreign control over Ghana’s critical data, particularly in health and security sectors. “Our hospital data is not with us. It is handled by some Indian and Israeli companies. They use that data to study our health patterns, develop drugs tailored for our environment, and then sell them back to us at a profit,” Professor Kester stated. He advocated for the establishment of local data centers and policies to ensure national data ownership, asserting that the real issue is control and utilization of data for national advantage, rather than just privacy. Professor Kester also outlined AI’s transformative potential in areas like electricity distribution, where AI could detect illegal power connections, and law enforcement, by predicting potential threats based on online activities. He cautioned against adopting foreign AI policies wholesale, urging for home-grown solutions and governance frameworks to strengthen domestic industries.
Adding to these warnings, Dr. Eugene Frimpong, a data analytics and AI specialist, highlighted Africa’s broader unpreparedness for AI governance challenges. In a statement on September 21, 2025, Dr. Frimpong noted that Africa’s regulatory environment makes it particularly vulnerable to the risks associated with AI deployment in public administration. “The rate of innovation always exceeds the pace of governance. Even in Europe and America, laws are struggling to catch up. Africa is even further behind,” he told The High Street Journal. He pointed out that only two African countries have adopted AI strategies, despite significant private sector momentum, with over 83% of AI startup funding in Q1 2025 going to Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt.
Dr. Frimpong identified key risks:
Transparency: AI systems often operate as “black boxes,” lacking clarity on data usage and algorithms. “You don’t really know what data is being used or what algorithms are applied. That lack of transparency is concerning,” he explained.
Algorithmic Bias: Models trained on skewed data can unfairly disadvantage marginalized groups, exacerbating existing inequalities in Africa’s diverse socioeconomic landscapes.
Security Vulnerabilities: AI systems can degrade without audits, and data poisoning by malicious actors could manipulate outcomes. “Whatever you put into the machine is what comes out. Garbage in, garbage out,” Dr. Frimpong warned.
Despite these risks, AI holds immense economic potential for Africa, with an estimated growth of $2.9 to $4.8 billion by 2030. Dr. Frimpong suggested targeted AI applications, starting with procurement oversight to combat corruption, and emphasized the need for strengthening privacy protections, safeguarding marginalized groups, and establishing independent AI governance bodies. The African Union’s Continental AI Strategy (2025-2030) aims to establish governance structures and national AI strategies.
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Both experts underscored the critical need for Ghana to balance innovation with equity, global standards with local needs, and state oversight with public trust to secure its digital future and harness the full potential of AI.
