Publication Details
Title:
Ghana Must Fast-Track AI Laws Before It’s Too Late – IT Expert Urges
Details:
Ghana may be on the path to regulating artificial intelligence, but the pace of action remains far too slow given the rapid spread of AI technologies across both public and private sectors, an IT expert has cautioned.
Eric Appiah, a digital systems analyst and data privacy advocate, says the country’s current efforts to draft AI legislation are welcome, but not enough to match the urgency of the moment.
“Ghana has started the process, yes, but it’s moving too slowly,” he told The High Street Journal. “The pace of AI development globally is lightning fast, and we can’t afford to be crawling when others are sprinting.”
Appiah warned that without a solid legal framework, the country risks exposing its citizens to unchecked algorithmic profiling, data exploitation, and surveillance. While some government agencies have begun adopting AI tools, there are few formal safeguards to ensure those systems are used ethically.
“The problem is, most countries, including Ghana, don’t have adequate frameworks to manage the ethical risks of surveillance AI. And where laws exist, they’re only in books,” he said.
READ ALSO
FanMilk Delivers 23% Volume Growth in 2024, Eyes Stronger Cold Chain Expansion
FanMilk Delivers 23% Volume Growth in 2024, Eyes Stronger Cold Chain Expansion
The Age of Data Harvesting: Will We Ever Regain Control?
Cedi Gains: BlowChem Slashes Prices Bringing Relief to Consumers in Q2
He emphasized that AI technologies are already influencing decisions in areas like hiring, public safety, and immigration screening in Ghana, often without public awareness or accountability.
“We’re not just talking about Big Tech here. Government agencies in Ghana are adopting AI tools, sometimes for good reasons, but without safeguards or transparency,” Appiah noted.
The public, too, remains largely unaware of the long-term digital trails they leave behind. Appiah stressed that deleting content online does not guarantee true erasure, especially in an era where AI can retrieve, analyze, and resurface even the faintest data footprints.
“Whatever you put online, it stays. You may forget it, but the internet never does,” he said.
For Appiah, what’s needed now is not just legislation, but a constitutional-scale rethink of digital governance, one that balances innovation with human rights and institutional accountability.
Ghana has begun early consultations on AI regulation, but experts warn that without a timely rollout of enforceable laws, the country could face challenges it is not legally or ethically prepared to handle.