The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, represented the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, at the “Fostering the Future Together” engagement in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. This high-level gathering brought together First Spouses and private sector leaders to explore ways of empowering children through technology, education, and digital skills.
A key outcome of Ghana’s participation was the signing of an agreement between Dr Lartey, on behalf of Mrs Mahama, and Intel Corporation to support the expansion of the AI for Youth Programme in Ghana. The collaboration, involving Intel, Coral Reef, and the Ministry of Education, aims to equip young people with skills to engage safely and thoughtfully with emerging technologies.
The “Fostering the Future Together” initiative emphasizes ensuring that children everywhere have access to the knowledge, tools, and opportunities needed to learn, grow, and thrive in an increasingly digital world. The engagement also addressed the responsible use of technology, emerging online risks, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on education and young people’s lives.
Private sector participants, including Adobe, Amazon, Google, Intel, Starlink, Zoom, and OpenAI, joined the engagement. Ghana’s participation builds on Mrs Mahama’s longstanding interest in education and young people’s development, including her advocacy for girl-child education through the Lordina Foundation.
The collaboration with Intel is expected to strengthen digital learning opportunities for Ghanaian children and support the development of skills needed to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. This initiative aligns with Mrs Mahama’s efforts to promote education and digital skills among Ghanaian youth.
The “Fostering the Future Together” initiative was launched during the 80th UN General Assembly in 2025 and has since developed into a global coalition involving First Spouses and equivalent representatives from countries worldwide. The initiative was convened by the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump.
The agreement with Intel marks a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence education into its school curriculum, preparing young people for the digital future. Key points include:
Key points
- The AI for Youth Programme will be expanded in Ghana through a collaboration between Intel, Coral Reef, and the Ministry of Education.
- The programme aims to introduce responsible artificial intelligence education in K-12 classrooms across Ghana.
- The initiative supports the development of skills needed for Ghanaian children to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
