Use AI to power one Pan-African Language — AETF

The Chairman of the Africa Education Trust Fund (AETF), Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has proposed innovative solutions to some of Africa’s longstanding economic, social, and political challenges, highlighting Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key driver of transformation across the continent.

Artificial Intelligence represents a new frontier, one Africa cannot afford to miss. But, according to Dr. Spio-Garbrah, the continent must be strategic in choosing where to compete. The AI ecosystem, he explained, consists of hardware, software, data, and applications. Hardware is dominated by the United States and China, while software platforms are already widely available and open-source.

“The real opportunity for Africa,” he noted, “lies in data and applications. If Africa does not move quickly to feed African content, our languages, cultures, and perspectives, into global AI systems, our voices will be absent from the future.”

Dr. Spio-Garbrah further suggested that the adoption of modern technology presents a major opportunity to unlock new avenues of economic growth, strengthen social cohesion, and improve the quality of life for millions of Africans.

“We can use Artificial Intelligence to create one common language. We’ve tried it before, though some of you may be too young to remember. I believe that language, which unifies all things, is one of the most critical ingredients for Africa’s unification,”

he stated while speaking under the theme “AI for Africa: Unlocking Opportunities for Education, Innovation, and Sustainable Development” at a conference in Accra.

According to Ghana’s Presidential Special Envoy for Reparations, achieving true African unity and common purpose will be difficult without embracing technology, particularly through the development of a shared Pan-African language powered by AI.

He concluded with a strong appeal:
“If we don’t overcome our linguistic barriers, it will be difficult for us to move forward. What I’m saying is that AI can help us create a Pan-African language — one that connects us all.”

The conference attracted over 1,000 in-person and more than 500 virtual participants from across the continent, including several distinguished speakers such as Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Sam George; Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Kofi Adams; UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Mr. Edmond Moukala; and international figures like Mr. J. Wendell Addy, Founder of the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS) and AETF Advisory Board Member, as well as CEOs from Margins Group and other partner organisations.