By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has called for greater
inclusion of African languages and indigenous knowledge systems in the
development of artificial intelligence, stressing that technology must reflect
the linguistic and cultural contexts of the societies it serves.
Prof. Amfo made the remarks
while delivering the University of Warwick’s Distinguished Africa Lecture 2026,
where she presented on the theme “Whose Language Counts? African Voices,
Knowledge Systems, and the Future of AI.”
In her address, she examined
the implications of language exclusion in emerging digital technologies and
raised concerns about whose knowledge systems are prioritized in the design and
deployment of artificial intelligence platforms.
Drawing on Ghana’s
multilingual environment, she emphasized the role of language as a key medium
for social interaction, emotional expression, and the transmission of
indigenous knowledge systems across generations.
Prof. Amfo argued that
Africa’s linguistic diversity should be recognized as a strategic asset capable
of enriching global artificial intelligence systems, rather than being viewed
as a barrier to technological advancement.
She further underscored the
need for AI development to be more inclusive and representative, ensuring that
African voices and knowledge systems are adequately reflected in global
technological innovation.
The lecture highlighted
growing scholarly and policy discussions around language inclusion in AI
development and the importance of aligning emerging technologies with local
cultural and linguistic realities.
The University of Ghana
noted that the address contributes to ongoing debates on digital inclusion,
knowledge equity, and the future of artificial intelligence in a rapidly
evolving global technology landscape.
