Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) move to make a one-credit artificial-intelligence course compulsory for all students is a welcome first step but must be backed by deeper curriculum reform and a national AI policy if it is to shift outcomes. This is according to Technology Innovations Consultant Dr. Kwami Ahiabenu.
“Any initiative to promote the adoption and the responsible use of AI’s welcome,” he said in an interview with The High Street Journal. The value, he argued, hinges on intent and content. “What’s the objective that they hope to accomplish by asking their students to take this course” and “what is the element in the program which is going to be taught?”
The module is designed as a one-hour class. Against the backdrop of what he called Ghana’s “not much in terms of development in AI,” he said: “Half a loaf is better than none,” casting the effort as “more of an awareness creation” phase “to get the students to think through AI.”
He said the strategic lift will come if universities begin to “mainstream” AI into every programme and create pathways for students who want to specialise. He noted some institutions already offer AI, cybersecurity and data-science tracks, though not yet at scale.
Asked what Ghana must do to grow its AI space, he said the country must accept that “emerging technologies that go beyond just AI is here to stay” and align implementation to national development goals. That requires human-capital investment. “We need people who have the skills, knowledge sets, and expertise… and as a country, we have not done so well in this area.”
Ahiabenu said silo schemes such as Girls in ICT and One Million Coders are useful, but coherence must flow from a national AI policy now in draft. “We need a clearly defined national AI policy, and currently, we have not implemented this strategy yet.”
