Accra: Mr. Niloy Banerjee, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Ghana, has urged the government to invest in Artificial Intelligence research and technology to tackle development challenges. He stated that AI holds significant potential to accelerate Ghana's progress in human development by improving access, service delivery, and innovation in health, education, and standard of living. Mr. Banerjee made these remarks at the launch of the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the report, themed 'A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI,' explores the influence of digitalisation and AI on areas including health, education, employment, and human agency. The event sought to contextualise global findings within Ghana's development landscape and promote dialogue among policymakers, academics, civil society, and development partners. Mr. Banerjee emphasized the urgent need to harness AI for inclusive and sustainable development, suggesting that Ghana should rethink policy design to protect data, expand access, and empower people through AI.
Mr. Banerjee noted that while Ghana continues to make steady progress in human development and ranks among countries with medium human development, challenges such as structural inequalities, climate vulnerability, and underutilised capabilities persist. Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission, acknowledged AI's vast potential but stressed the importance of ethical and equitable deployment to ensure that benefits are accessible to all socio-economic groups.
Dr. Thompson highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts across all sectors of the economy and with development partners to bridge the digital divide. He emphasized that only by making AI truly accessible can it be effectively used as a tool to reduce inequality. The Human Development Index (HDI), a statistical measure used to rank countries based on health, education, and standard of living, reflects this progress, with Ghana's HDI rising from 0.594 in 2017 to 0.628 in 2023, indicating gradual improvements in opportunities and well-being.
