At the maiden Rethink Africa Convo, held at the University of Ghana on March 21, industry experts, thought leaders, and traditional authorities converged to discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping Africa’s future under the theme Generation AI: Optimising the New Age.
Delivering the keynote address, Ing. Richard Densu, Senior Manager for Customer Enablement and Solutions at MTN Ghana, highlighted the continent’s unique opportunity to leapfrog technological advancements by embracing AI.
He illustrated this potential by recounting the groundbreaking impact of mobile money in Kenya, where engineers collaborated with M-PESA to create a digital payment system that now facilitates over 50% of the country’s GDP transactions.
“We don’t need to go through the lengthy digitisation processes that others went through. If we seize this opportunity, Africa will be ahead; if we don’t, we’ll be left behind,” he emphasized.
Ing. Densu noted that AI is already transforming connectivity, making internet access more affordable and efficient. He pointed out that AI-driven innovations, such as predictive maintenance and network optimisation, are reducing costs and improving service delivery. “Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity,” he stated, adding that MTN Ghana has already connected over 200,000 homes to fiber broadband.
The keynote speaker also touched on AI’s applications in cybersecurity, telemedicine, smart agriculture, and education. According to him, AI is crucial for economic transformation, citing a World Bank report that a 10% increase in broadband penetration leads to a 1.4% GDP growth.
However, he cautioned that Africa must take proactive steps, including investing in infrastructure, fostering digital literacy, and creating a regulatory environment that supports innovation.
“The question is: will we seize this opportunity, or will we remain stuck? Let’s move forward together to build a connected, inclusive, and prosperous Africa,” he charged.
For his opening remarks, John Ofori, Founder and President of Rethink Africa challenged young people to look beyond traditional education.
“We need to go out of the four corners of our classrooms and begin to learn something new. If not, we will graduate with the best grades but find ourselves without jobs and without opportunities,” he warned.
John emphasized the urgency for Ghana to take AI seriously, citing Kenya and Rwanda’s strides in the field.
“In the next two years, a lot of jobs will be displaced. If you are not qualified to be in that sector, AI will take your job from you because somebody is acquiring that knowledge.”
A representative of Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, Omanhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, addressed the role of AI in governance and traditional leadership.
He underscored the importance of leveraging AI for informed decision-making and effective governance.
“Traditional leaders must adapt to this new landscape. AI can empower traditional authorities by providing data-driven insights that enhance decision-making and governance,” he stated.
He also stressed that AI’s implementation should prioritize inclusivity. “We must advocate for policies that protect our people and also promote responsible AI practices,” he added.
Darlington Akogo, Founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, provided a global perspective on AI’s economic impact, predicting that AI could add $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
However, he argued that this figure might be an underestimate given AI’s rapid advancements.
“AI can improve productivity by 40%, and different economies can grow by 26% by leveraging AI systems,” Darlington said.
“I actually think that the estimates are very low as more advanced forms of AI systems are being developed…they are fine but they are mainly based on the versions of AI systems that already exist,” he noted.
He highlighted the emergence of Generative AI, which now enables machines to create text, images, and videos, opening up vast opportunities across industries.
Darlington further urged Ghanaians to embrace AI, emphasising that its presence is now virtually inevitable across all sectors and career fields
“Whatever you are studying, whatever sector you are interested in, the reality is that AI is already present there—from healthcare to automotive, finance to transportation. You have AI everywhere,” he said.
A panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann and featuring Dr. Stephen Moore, Samuel Amanor, Dr. David King Boison, and Darlington Akogo, explored the commercial potential of AI-driven initiatives, the challenges associated with AI adoption, the ethical considerations surrounding its responsible use, and the critical role of governmental policies and regulations in shaping its implementation and governance.
