Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL), contributed to a discussion at the Tech in Ghana, Kumasi Royal Edition. The event, held at the Jubilee Hall, Manhyia Palace, focused on “Ghana’s Leap into the Intelligent Era,” bringing key voices to the forefront of the national AI conversation.
In his panel remarks, Prof. Kponyo emphasised the dual nature of artificial intelligence. He highlighted AI’s immense potential to transform economies, noting its capacity to add at least $20 billion to Ghana’s GDP. However, he underscored that without thoughtful guidance, this powerful technology “can go very wrong.”
“It is for this reason that guardrails must be in place for the deployment of AI solutions,” he stated.
To build these essential guardrails, RAIL is spearheading strategic collaborations. The lab is partnering with the French Embassy through the AI for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) initiative, alongside international development partners including IDRC, FCDO, and GIZ. Together, we are working to establish RAIL as the global conscience in the responsible deployment of AI solutions.
Prof. Kponyo shared concrete examples of RAIL’s work, illustrating how principles are translated into practice. He said through the AI4SD project, RAIL has developed “Sign Talk,” an innovative solution designed to increase access to healthcare for persons with disabilities in clinical settings.
He added that RAIL’s key focus is ensuring inclusive participation in the digital future. “RAIL is promoting girls’ inclusion in technology through initiatives like robotics clubs in senior high schools and the SHECodes program, which helps sharpen coding skills for young women,” he stated.
Addressing a common misconception, Prof. Kponyo warned against the dangerous assumption that effectively using AI requires no training. To empower individuals and maximise AI’s benefits, RAIL has taken the lead in providing training in prompt engineering, a crucial skill for the intelligent era.