As part of the Responsible AI Lab’s (RAIL) mission to advance the responsible use of AI to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it outdoored the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project on 15th January 2025 at the RWESCK Auditorium. The focus areas for the project are AI in Agriculture (SDG 2), AI in health (SDG 3), AI in Energy (SDG 7), AI in Education (SDG 4), AI for dealing with illegal mining (SDG 6), Responsible AI and Inclusivity (SDG 10) and AI-powered innovations (SDG 9). Beyond developing innovative solutions, the project also seeks to curate critical datasets for the ecosystem.
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Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, the Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of RAIL and the Project Lead for AI4SD, acknowledged the support of the French Embassy in Ghana and the French Development Agency (AFD), who have committed 1.03 Million Euros to support impactful research under RAIL’s AI4SD project.
He described the lab’s growth: "What began with a seed fund of one million Canadian Dollars and a small team of researchers has grown into a world-class multidisciplinary lab with over 50 research fellows, eight PhD candidates, and six MPhil candidates.”
Prof. Kponyo emphasised that AI4SD’s mission is rooted in the principle of “show working,” which reflects a commitment to using AI research to create tangible, transformative solutions for communities.
In his opening address, the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, commended the AI4SD team for their forward-thinking initiatives. He stressed the importance of digital development areas, such as blockchain, quantum computing, and AI, noting that the college has made significant strides in AI research.
The Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prof. E.A. Frimpong, also expressed optimism about the project’s potential to create meaningful solutions and foster entrepreneurship. He intimated the importance of turning theoretical research into real-world impact and thanked the French government for its generosity and commitment to sustainable development.
Representatives of the French Embassy and AFD shared their excitement about the collaboration. Mr. Julien Lecas, Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy, noted the potential of AI to drive sustainable development through science and entrepreneurship.
“Through projects like AI4SD, we can harness the power of AI to reduce poverty, empower communities, and create innovative solutions for the future,” Mr. Lecas stated.
Claire Delamare, Deputy Country Director, Ghana at AFD, described AI4SD as a project that reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity and ethical innovation. She noted that it aligns perfectly with the mission of fostering sustainable and equitable development globally.
The workshop featured engaging presentations on the various thematic areas of AI4SD, showcasing how AI is harnessed to address critical challenges.
For agriculture, Dr. Eric Tutu Tchao, Agric Theme Lead, presented plans to leverage AI and sensors to improve agricultural productivity, reclaim land damaged by illegal mining, and introduce sustainable farming practices. A demonstration site has been established in Anwomaso to showcase these solutions.
Dr. Henry Nunoo-Mensah, AI in Health Theme Lead, introduced two flagship projects in health. The Care for Rare project aims to use AI to diagnose rare conditions in newborns. At the same time, the Medical Imaging Diagnostic Tools initiative will address the shortage of radiologists in Ghana by providing AI-powered diagnostic support.
Education was another key focus. Dr. Eunice Akyereko Adjei, AI in Education Theme Lead, highlighted programs like the RAIL Robotics Club for JHS and SHS students, SheCodes for tertiary females, and mentorship programs for STEM students. These initiatives aim to foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills in young learners.
For energy, Dr. Akwasi Adu-Poku, representing Prof. Francis Kemausuor, outlined plans to collaborate with GRIDCO to enhance electricity reliability by predicting equipment failures using AI.
The workshop also highlighted inclusive AI innovations to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. These include retrofitting wheelchairs with obstacle detection systems and developing a Sign Talk application to facilitate communication between hearing-impaired patients and healthcare providers. Both initiatives are led by Dr Justice Owusu Agyemang and Dr Emmanuel Ahene, respectively.
The AI-powered innovations theme announced an upcoming innovation challenge as part of AI4SD’s commitment to fostering innovation. This competition will invite participants to develop creative AI solutions that address challenges in agriculture, health, education, and energy. Details of the challenge will be communicated soon.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Kponyo reiterated RAIL’s commitment to ensuring that research outcomes create real societal impact. “Our success will not be measured by the number of academic papers we publish but by the tangible ways we improve lives and communities,” he stated.
He thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, and all stakeholders for their unwavering support, encouraging continued collaboration to achieve the project’s goals.
