Divas In AI Ghana launched to increase female participation in AI and tech

Divas in AI Ghana (DIAG), the female wing of renowned Artificial Intelligence advocacy organisation, AI Ghana, has been officially launched.

Speaking at the launch, which took place during the first edition of AI Afahyɛ at Ennovate Blck in Accra, Co-founder and Vice President of AI Ghana, Deborah Arthur, highlighted the declining participation of women in tech-related roles as the driving force behind DIAG’s creation.

Deborah pointed out that the tech industry remains heavily male-dominated, with women representing only 24% of participants. She emphasised the need for increased female representation in the field.

“Sadly, the tech industry is still a male-dominated domain. Occupying about 24% of all jobs in the information technology industry worldwide, women are heavily under-represented in the digital economy, and this is even more serious for African women,” she noted.

“The implication of the gender gap is that every day in Africa, particularly Ghana, women are being left behind in the creative AI revolution. Gender inequality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields is a crucial problem for any country that aims at accelerating AI in order to advance the rapidly growing field,” she added.

DIAG’s mission is to train 5,000 women in AI by 2030 through educational initiatives such as mentorship programs, boot camps, seminars, and research collaborations. The organisation aims to partner with both corporate and startup environments to equip women with relevant AI skills, ultimately increasing female participation in the field.

Volviane Saphir Mfogo will serve as Programs Lead for DIAG, under the direction of John Bagiliko and Deborah Arthur, President and Vice-President of AI Ghana, respectively.