AI cannot replace teachers despite growing role in education – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has stressed that artificial intelligence cannot replace the human relationship between teachers and learners, despite its growing role in education.

He said technology could support lesson preparation, assessment and feedback, but teachers would remain central to ensuring effective learning and guiding students.

Speaking at the Tɛkyerɛma Pa Hackathon and AI Summit 2026 at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Friday, October 30, Dr. Apaak called for greater investment in teachers’ digital competence to enable them to use emerging technologies responsibly.

“AI can assist with lessons, assessment and feedback, but it cannot replace the human relationship between a teacher and a learner,” he said.

He added that teachers needed the necessary skills to guide students in navigating an increasingly digital learning environment.

“We must invest in teachers’ digital competence so they can guide students in using technology well,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister noted that AI could help teachers prepare learning materials and provide additional support to students who were struggling academically.

However, he cautioned that the technology also presented risks, including bias, inaccurate information, privacy violations and the presentation of borrowed work as original.

He said Ghana’s approach to technology in education must therefore balance innovation with ethical responsibility and human judgement.

Dr. Apaak also called on universities to work with industry and communities to develop practical solutions that respond to local needs.

“Our universities must become engines of applied innovation, working across disciplines with industry and communities. Innovation that ignores context may be technically impressive but socially ineffective,” he said.

His remarks were delivered during the summit, which focused on preparing Ghanaian learners to innovate, create and lead in an AI-driven future.