Kumasi: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has opened the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) mini conference to share data, challenges, and successes in navigating AI tools for development. The conference will examine how artificial intelligence can be designed and deployed to be context-aware, inclusive, and sustainable, directly supporting the development of goals that define the future.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event is organised under the theme: ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).’ The AI4SD’s vision has been to cultivate an ecosystem where research meets real-world applications. It is implemented by the KNUST, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Universit© Paris-Saclay, and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), with support from the French Embassy, International Development Research Center (IDRC), and AFD.
Professor Jerry John Kponyo, AI4SD Project Lead, emphasized the pivotal moment in history where AI tools can either widen or bridge the gap between the privileged and underserved. He highlighted that the AI4SD project has aggressively pursued solutions in agriculture and food security by developing a Crop Disease Detection Toolbox and a Smart Indigenous Weather App (SIW), designed to boost farmer productivity.
The conference also showcased health sector innovations, such as AI-powered solutions for rare diseases in newborns and the MiG Tool for cross-modality imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy. The SignTalk-Gh Dataset was released, featuring over 10,000 Ghanaian Sign Language videos to improve healthcare communication for deaf patients, reducing inequalities.
In tackling environmental challenges, AI sensors are being deployed to monitor chemical stability and remove toxic heavy metals from water bodies affected by illegal mining. In the energy sector, collaboration with the Ghana Grid Company aims to use AI for predicting transformer faults, ensuring a reliable energy supply. Educational initiatives include establishing 15 Robotics Clubs in less privileged Senior High Schools across Ghana and donating 45 laptops.
Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, urged stakeholders to embrace the programme beyond its initial phase, emphasizing the strategic importance of leveraging AI to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Mr. Julien Lecas, Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy, noted the significance of supporting AI4SD in creating conditions for collaborative work and learning.