"Data is the new gold" - Prof. Kwofie leads charge for AI-driven, equitable Africa

Prof. Samuel Kojo Kwofie, Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) at the University of Ghana, issued a call for Ghana and Africa to transform untapped data into equitable AI solutions at the 2026 Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa. The event was organized by the School of Biological Sciences under the College of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Ghana. Prof. Kwofie declared that "data is the new gold and Africa is sitting on a vast, largely unexploited reserve." He stated that Ghana and Africa have a wealth of unused data that could create solutions for health, agriculture, and climate change.

Prof. Kwofie acknowledged existing innovations but insisted more could be achieved with deliberate investment in artificial intelligence. He noted that AI investment in Africa has surged from roughly $1.2 billion to an estimated $4.1 billion over the past five years. This financial momentum, combined with a strategic push from organizations like UNESCO and the African Union, is creating fertile ground for homegrown solutions. President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the National Artificial earlier this year.