RAIL STUDENT IMPACT

Amina Salifu, a PhD student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a scholar at the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL), is a shining example of how RAIL fosters academic excellence and responsible AI practices.

Amina’s research focuses on developing a Natural Language Processing (NLP) model to detect native and non-native English speakers, emphasising Ghanaian English accents. By integrating Machine Learning (ML) and deep learning models, her work contributes to advancements in speech recognition technologies tailored to local contexts.

RAIL has played a pivotal role in Amina’s journey, providing financial support, expert feedback, and opportunities for conference participation. She has achieved notable recognition, winning the Poster Presentation Award at both the Deep Learning Indaba in Senegal and the Ghana Data Science Summit (IndabaX Ghana). Furthermore, her PhD abstract earned her travel and accommodation waivers for the Women in Machine Learning Workshop in Vancouver, Canada, and the African Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ACWES) 2024.

Through RAIL’s initiatives, Amina has collaborated with diverse institutions, enriching her research and expanding her professional network. Reflecting on her experience, she notes, “RAIL has given my research direction, meaning, and global visibility, equipping me to contribute to responsible AI development.”