🇬🇭GhanaWest Africa
Ghana's Speaker of Parliament warns of AI's promise and peril at strategy unveiling
via GhanaWeb1 min read
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, cautioned that Artificial Intelligence AI offers significant opportunities but requires careful management to mitigate risks. Speaking at the unveiling of Ghana’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in Accra on April 24, 2026, Bagbin highlighted the event as a critical milestone for the country. He described the strategy as a national vision aimed at positioning Ghana as a leader in the ethical and responsible application of emerging technologies across Africa. Bagbin acknowledged AI's transformative power in various sectors globally, including economies, governance, education, healthcare, and security. However, he stressed that AI's rapid evolution necessitates proper regulation, warning that its benefits come with potential downsides if mismanaged. He noted that while AI can enhance productivity, improve public services, and expand economic opportunities, it could also exacerbate inequality, erode trust, and threaten privacy if not handled correctly. The Speaker emphasized the importance of ethical oversight, urging stakeholders to ensure technological advancement is paired with strong moral responsibility. He underscored Ghana’s constitutional obligation to deploy AI in ways that safeguard human dignity, strengthen democracy, and foster inclusive opportunities, stating that technological advancement must be morally grounded.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadThe Municipal Hospital in Dunkwa-on-Offin, Central Region, has been without an oxygen supply since Friday, June 5, 2026. An internal notice to staff, reported by citinewsroom.com, indicated that the hospital had been using reserve cylinders until they were depleted by midnight on Sunday, June 7, 2026. This shortage is significantly affecting patient care, particularly for children and those dependent on oxygen. Hospital management has not yet released an official public statement, but the notice confirmed that engineers are traveling from Accra to repair the oxygen plant. A hospital staff member, speaking anonymously, stated that all babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other oxygen-dependent patients have been referred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The report could not confirm if the situation has resulted in any patient deaths.
Governor Piotr Alexsandrovich of Brest hosted President John Dramani Mahama following his visit to the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex in Belarus. President Mahama toured the historic World War II site, where he laid a wreath in honor of soldiers and civilians who resisted the Nazi invasion of 1941. He was accompanied by Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia, Dr Steem Jehu-Appiah, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, officials from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from the Ghana Mission in Moscow. During the visit, Governor Alexsandrovich briefed President Mahama on the significance of the fortress, a revered historical landmark symbolizing resilience and sacrifice. The visit concluded with a luncheon, where both parties discussed opportunities to strengthen Ghana-Belarus relations, particularly in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and investment.
Constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress NDC in New Abirem reportedly prevented the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, from launching the Akyem Kotoku Area Cooperative Mining Scheme rCOMSDEP on Monday, June 8, 2026. The event, scheduled for the New Abirem Durbar Grounds, was intended to introduce a government initiative under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme. Video footage from JoyNews showed the alleged NDC executives obstructing the minister and his delegation, with individuals seen pushing a metallic box onto the road. President John Dramani Mahama was listed as a special guest for the launch, alongside the Eastern Regional Minister and other officials. The cooperative mining scheme is part of a government strategy to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining, ensure environmental compliance, build local capacity, and maximize benefits for host communities. It aims to promote sustainable, community-driven small-scale mining, provide skills training, and offer a regulated alternative to illegal mining, known as galamsey. This initiative follows the discontinuation of previous community mining models and is part of ongoing national efforts to combat illegal mining.