Ghana is making progress on developing its first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. In October 2022, The Future Society announced it had delivered a draft "Republic of Ghana National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2023-2033" in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, Data Protection Commission, and other partners.
As of January 2024, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation stated that a draft strategy was ready to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration. The strategy aims to create better conditions for developing and using AI to benefit citizens.
Ghana is aligning its AI efforts with broader African initiatives. As a member of the African Union (AU), Ghana is working to support the AU's Digital Transformation Strategy and Artificial Intelligence Continental Strategy for Africa. The country participated in an AU workshop aimed at gathering input on AI challenges and opportunities in Africa.
Ghana has embraced a collaborative approach in developing its AI strategy. The process has involved over 40 local stakeholder consultations, AI policy landscape mapping, SWOT analysis of Ghana's AI ecosystem, and high-level public sector workshops. These engagements have covered topics like AI governance frameworks, implementation plans, ethical guidelines, and sector-specific use cases.
The Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation has led public engagement efforts, with annual budgets supporting policy planning sessions. In late 2022, stakeholder meetings were held to discuss Ghana's broader Digital Economy Policy, covering areas like data governance, emerging tech regulation, and open data.
Ghana enacted a Data Protection Act in 2012, establishing the Data Protection Commission as an independent body to enforce the law and protect data subjects' rights. The Act includes provisions on automated decision-making, stating that individuals have the right to object to decisions significantly affecting them that are based solely on automated processing of personal data.
The Data Protection Commission is currently drafting subsidiary regulations, expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Ghana has also ratified the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention), which aims to establish a regional data protection framework.
While Ghana's data protection law establishes principles of fair and transparent data processing, it does not explicitly address algorithmic transparency. The Data Protection Act could potentially be interpreted to include algorithmic transparency, but this would likely require clarification from the Data Protection Commission or courts.
A study on AI use in Ghana's fintech industry found concerns about a lack of algorithmic transparency and explainability, particularly related to gender bias in financial services decisions.
Ghana has increasingly adopted facial recognition and biometric technologies:
- The National Service Scheme implemented facial recognition in its registration process to prevent fraud.
- Ghana is developing the Integrated National Security Communications Enhancement Network (ALPHA) project, which will incorporate facial recognition CCTV cameras.
- The Ghana Police Service has adopted biometric devices to check individuals against the National Identification Authority database.
- The National Identity System uses fingerprints, facial templates, and iris recognition for identification.
These developments have raised concerns about potential surveillance and privacy infringement.
Ghana has explored various forms of citizen scoring:
- A 2019 study found that six biometric databases owned by public authorities provide citizen scores, including credit reference scores.
- The Bank of Ghana has initiated discussions to introduce credit scoring as a complement to existing credit reports, leveraging the Ghana Card national ID system.
Ghana is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has enshrined key human rights provisions in its 1992 Constitution. The country is also party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
In 2021, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights adopted Resolution 473, which calls on member states to ensure AI development aligns with human rights principles. The resolution emphasises transparency, accountability, and the need for comprehensive legal and ethical governance frameworks for AI.
While not an OECD member, Ghana is part of the OECD Development Centre and has collaborated with the OECD AI Policy Observatory in developing its national AI strategy. As a UNESCO member state, Ghana has also adopted the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023