MTN Ghana trains media, CSOs on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence

MTN Ghana has organised an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training for Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), equipping participants with practical knowledge on the opportunities, limitations and security implications of emerging AI technologies.

The training, held today, Monday, August 24, 2026, featured experienced professionals in technology, digital analytics and AI, including Samuel Adranyi, CEO and Founder of Afrilogic Solutions; Kwame Manu, Senior Manager for Digital Analytics and Monetisation; and Nehemia Yelu Affigah, CEO of HatuaTech.

Participants were taken through some of the widely used consumer AI tools and how they can be applied responsibly in professional and everyday activities.

A key focus of the training was data privacy and security, with facilitators cautioning participants against entering sensitive or confidential information into AI platforms, particularly free consumer tools.

They advised that individuals and organisations using AI for business purposes should consider paid versions of the platforms, which generally provide greater control over privacy and security settings.

The facilitators stressed a simple but important rule: “Nothing confidential goes into an AI tool.”

AI Reality Check
As part of an “AI Reality Check,” participants were reminded that AI models essentially operate as prediction engines.

Their responses are generated based on patterns learned from the data on which they were trained.

The facilitators explained that this principle also helps to understand some of the weaknesses of AI, particularly why the same AI system can sometimes produce an impressive response and, at another moment, generate information that could be misleading or dangerously inaccurate.

Participants were therefore cautioned against treating AI-generated information as automatically accurate.

The training also touched on the security side of AI, including the negative patterns that can emerge when people deliberately or unknowingly feed incorrect information into AI systems.

The facilitators cited situations where individuals have used unverified images and AI-generated content to make allegations, stressing the potential consequences of relying on information that has not been properly authenticated.

Practical Demonstrations
Participants were also taken through practical examples involving different AI tools, including ChatGPT, with facilitators demonstrating how the tools can be used more effectively for research, analysis and other professional tasks.

They encouraged participants to explore advanced features and appropriate work modes where available, while maintaining a strong emphasis on verification and responsible use.

The facilitators further highlighted the shortfalls of AI, particularly its tendency to produce convincing but inaccurate information, commonly referred to as AI hallucinations.

They consequently urged media practitioners and CSOs to verify information generated by AI before publishing, sharing or using it for important decisions.

The training underscored that while AI presents enormous opportunities for productivity, innovation and digital transformation, users must combine its capabilities with human judgment, fact-checking, privacy awareness and ethical responsibility.

For journalists and civil society organisations, the lessons are particularly significant as AI continues to influence how information is researched, produced, analysed and distributed.

The central message from the training was clear: AI can be a powerful assistant, but it should never replace critical thinking, verification and responsible professional judgment.