The Director of Innovation at Ghana's Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Emmanuel Ofori, has emphasized the need for Ghana and Africa to invest in research and development. This will enable the region to develop technologies and solutions based on local data and realities, rather than relying on foreign technology.
Mr. Ofori made these remarks at the inaugural Research Symposium 2026 of the Young African Research Academy (YARA) in Accra. The symposium's theme was "Indigenous Research Renaissance- From Inquiry to Impact." He highlighted the significance of Artificial Intelligence, but noted that many AI system datasets are foreign and do not accurately reflect African languages, cultures, and experiences.
Mr. Ofori cited the challenges some AI systems face in producing natural Twi as an example. He stressed that Ghana needs to develop and contribute local datasets to improve the relevance of such technologies. Furthermore, he encouraged researchers to move beyond academic publications and focus on developing solutions that can be applied and commercialized.
The Founder and Executive Director of YARA, Isaac Aboah, stated that the Academy was established to nurture a new generation of African researchers and promote evidence-based decision-making. He emphasized that early exposure to research and scientific methods is crucial to equip young Africans with the skills to develop practical solutions to challenges facing the continent.
YARA has trained ten students from universities across Ghana to undertake original research under the guidance of experienced researchers. Several fellows have graduated with first-class honors, while others have secured scholarships or are being considered for PhD opportunities based on their research. The research fellows presented findings from their studies and made recommendations in areas including financial inclusion, maternal mental health, and caregiving.
One research fellow, Benjamin Ekow Attabra, presented research on using mobile money data and Artificial Intelligence to help unbanked individuals access more sophisticated financial products. Another research project by Linda Akosua Essilfie examined the relationship between maternal mental health, caregiving quality, and child behavioral development.
YARA aims to build research infrastructure for emerging African researchers and generate evidence that can inform policy, technology, and practical solutions. The Academy is preparing to publish a dataset on the traditional Ghanaian game "Ampe" for use in machine-learning research and is seeking partnerships to create opportunities for more young Africans to pursue research.
Key points
- The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation is prepared to partner with researchers in areas such as AI, health, and climate change.
- YARA has trained ten students from universities across Ghana to undertake original research under the guidance of experienced researchers.
- The Academy aims to build research infrastructure for emerging African researchers and generate evidence that can inform policy, technology, and practical solutions.
