Ghana must create AI technologies, not remain consumers – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has challenged Ghana to move beyond using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies developed elsewhere and equip young people to create solutions that address the country’s needs.

He said Ghanaian learners must be prepared not only to adapt to emerging technologies but also to innovate and take leadership roles in shaping their development and application.

Speaking at the Tɛkyerɛma Pa Hackathon and AI Summit 2026 at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Friday, October 30, Dr. Apaak said the country must position its young people to become active participants in the global AI revolution.

“The question is no longer whether AI will influence education. It already does. The question is whether our learners will shape this transformation, or navigate it as passive consumers of technologies developed elsewhere,” he said.

He stressed that Ghana must deliberately develop the capacity of its young people to create technology and apply it to local challenges.

“Ghana must not merely prepare its young people to use the technologies of the future. We must empower them to innovate, to create those technologies, and to lead in governing their use and applying them to solve Ghanaian problems,” he added.

The Deputy Minister said the traditional emphasis on memorising and reproducing information was no longer sufficient, as learners increasingly needed critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and adaptability.

He also urged participants in the hackathon to focus on practical solutions rather than projects designed solely to impress judges.

“Do not build simply to impress the judges. Build to make a difference,” he advised.

Dr. Apaak encouraged innovators to explore how AI could help teachers identify learning difficulties, improve access to digital education in rural communities and make learning more accessible to persons with disabilities.

The address was delivered under the theme, ‘Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven Future: Empowering Ghanaian Learners to Innovate, Create and Lead’.

The summit brought together students, researchers, technology innovators, industry players and academia to explore the role of artificial intelligence in education and national development.