The Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hosted Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, for a tour of the lab during his visit to KNUST. The visit deepens the Ministry’s partnership with KNUST as the nation transitions from AI policy formulation to active implementation.

Addressing Prof. Christian Agyare, Vice-Chancellor, and university leadership, Hon. Sam George described his return to his alma mater as nostalgic. Reflecting on his journey as a first-year Agricultural Engineering student in 2001, the Minister expressed deep gratitude to KNUST for shaping his career.

The Minister noted that his first two years in office focused on establishing frameworks, including the National AI Strategy, which was drafted by RAIL under the leadership of Prof. Jerry John Kponyo. Following its launch by President John Dramani Mahama in April 2026, the strategy has now entered the critical implementation phase. He emphasized that while the government provides policy direction, the execution of AI initiatives relies heavily on academia. He identified RAIL as a central partner in this endeavor, particularly in addressing the risk of AI creating a divide or contributing to the extinction of indigenous African languages.

He said the partnership between the Ministry and KNUST is most visible in the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) as he announced a strategic restructuring of the initiative. Originally targeting first-year students, the programme will now focus on third and final-year students to better prepare them for the job market upon graduation, he stated. To support this expansion, the Minister presented 2,000 additional laptops to the university, supplementing the initial donation of 500 units.

Prof. Christian Agyare, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, welcomed the support, stating, “The university is ready because it has the experts. He added that enrolling the third and final years in the OMCP is an excellent idea to reduce unemployment.”

Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, KNUST Focal Person for the OMCP and Principal Investigator and Scientific Director, RAIL, provided an overview of the programme’s success. He mentioned that four centers have been established across the university: the Department of Computer Science, the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Faculty of Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, and the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL).

Prof. Kponyo reported a cumulative enrollment of 1,447 students, with 195 already completing the programme. He noted the potential for further growth, emphasizing the importance of connecting participants to job opportunities to motivate completion.

The delegation concluded the visit with a tour of key research facilities, including the Ghana Photonics and Optics Laboratory, the Responsible AI Lab, and the KNUST College of Engineering Innovation Center.

During his engagement with RAIL researchers, Hon. George expressed admiration for the lab’s work, reiterating that all research efforts must be geared toward societal impact.