Julius Debrah calls for inclusive and ethical AI strategies to drive Africa’s development

Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has highlighted the urgent need for African countries to design inclusive and ethically grounded national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies to fully tap into the technology’s transformative potential.

Speaking at the 2025 Africa Education Trust Fund – Artificial Intelligence (AETF-AI) Conference, held under the theme “AI for Africa: Unlocking Opportunities for Education, Innovation and Sustainable Development,” he stressed that AI is already reshaping key sectors globally, and Africa must take deliberate steps to harness it for sustainable growth.

He noted that countries actively deploying AI are recording measurable advancements in education, healthcare, agriculture and climate resilience. He referenced the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy, endorsed in Accra in 2024, which positions AI as a strategic driver of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner that is ethical and inclusive.

Citing examples across the continent, Mr Debrah said AI is making learning more accessible in Mali through the translation of books into local languages, while in Kenya, AI-powered sign language translation tools are reducing barriers for deaf students.
“These are not merely innovations; they are lifelines for ensuring equitable access to knowledge,” he stated.

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He underscored that achieving Africa’s AI ambitions requires intentional policy action, not passive hope. Ghana, he noted, has already developed a National AI Strategy aimed at positioning the country as a regional AI hub, supported by initiatives such as the One Million Coders Programme to build digital skills among young people.

He, however, acknowledged persistent challenges, including infrastructure gaps, limited internet access, inadequate local datasets, and the lack of language support, all of which restrict the scalability and contextual relevance of AI tools.

Mr Debrah called for a collective continental approach, rooted in African contexts, to ensure that data ecosystems are secure, robust, and reflective of Africa’s diversity.
“The future of AI in Africa will be shaped not by possibility but by purpose,” he emphasised.

Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Chairman of AETF, said Ghana was honoured to host the conference and noted that AETF was intentionally designed as a private sector–led platform to allow businesses to play a strategic role in advancing Africa’s education agenda.

He explained that AI presents a unique opportunity to address one of Africa’s longstanding obstacles to unity, which is language diversity.
“For decades, linguistic fragmentation has hindered communication, trade and integration across the continent,” he said.

Dr Spio-Garbrah added that AI’s potential to help develop a Pan-African language could serve as a unifying bridge, fostering deeper integration and strengthening Africa’s collective identity.