Dr. David Boison urges Ghana to establish AI governance, integrate AI into education, and harness local talent to prevent brain drain, positioning the country as an exporter of AI expertise and innovation

 March 24, 2025

Ghana’s growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is happening without a structured governance framework, leaving institutions vulnerable to data security risks, unethical AI use, and unregulated technological expansion. 

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Dr. David King Boison, a distinguished expert in maritime technology and policy has warned that without proper policies and regulations, the country risks falling behind in the global AI revolution while exposing sensitive information to external control.

Dr. Boison, who previously served as IT Manager at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and played a key role in Ghana’s Paperless Port Process, is now the CEO of Knowledge Web Centre and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for International Maritime Affairs Ghana (CIMAG). He is leading AI-driven research and training initiatives aimed at equipping Africans with future-ready technological skills.

In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, he highlighted Ghana’s unregulated AI adoption, warning that the absence of structured governance exposes institutions to risks.

“Right now, just the front gate has been opened. Somebody is using DeepSeek. Another institution is using OpenAI. Anyone who has access to any platform can use it. And once you are doing that, you are giving out information.”

Beyond governance, Dr. Boison stressed that Ghana’s education system is not structured to take full advantage of AI. He described the current system as being too focused on memorization rather than equipping students with hands-on, experiential knowledge that can foster AI innovation.

“What does objective questions achieve? When you finish answering, what happens? We have to unlearn the old things and relearn the new ones. Our education system must move into experiential learning and project-based training.”

He cited China‘s success in AI development, where learning through replication and hands-on application has driven rapid technological advancements. According to him, Ghana needs a similar shift toward a practical approach to AI education if it is to compete on the global stage.

Ghana is home to a significant number of AI professionals, yet their expertise is not being effectively harnessed for national development. Dr. Boison revealed that an ongoing initiative supported by the African Diaspora Central Bank has trained over 4,000 AI trainers in Ghana, contributing to a broader effort to train 11 million Africans in AI technologies. However, despite this talent pool, there is no coordinated strategy to integrate AI professionals into Ghana’s industries.

“We have trained more AI experts than Rwanda, but we have not been able to utilize these experts to address the specific needs of this country.”

With countries like the US, Canada, and parts of Europe easing visa restrictions for AI experts, Ghana risks losing its best AI talent to foreign opportunities unless deliberate efforts are made to create local job opportunities, research initiatives, and AI-driven industries.

Dr. Boison further emphasized that if Ghana establishes the right policies and frameworks, it could position itself as an exporter of AI expertise by training AI professionals and sending them to global markets where demand for AI talent is rapidly increasing. He noted that with structured programs, Ghanaian AI experts could become highly sought-after across industries worldwide.

To ensure Ghana plays a meaningful role in AI advancement, Dr. Boison and his team are setting up AI laboratories focused on robotics innovation and research. The plan includes acquiring Optimus – Elon Musk’s robots, dismantling them, and re-engineering them to create models suited for Ghana’s economic needs.

“We are setting up a lab where we are buying some of Elon Musk’s robots. We are going to dismantle them and then try to make them fit. Replicate the same thing in this country and make sure that these robots become a tool that we can also use for work and economic growth.”

As AI continues to redefine industries worldwide, Ghana has a unique opportunity to position itself as a leader in AI development. However, Dr. Boison stressed that this will only be possible if the country takes deliberate steps to establish AI governance structures, integrate AI into its education system, and create a clear national agenda for AI adoption.

“If we take advantage of these sponsorships and training opportunities, Ghana can become a net exporter of AI expertise. But we need leadership to coordinate all these efforts and set a clear national agenda.”