Samuel Nartey George denies ordering KNUST to build Twi AI model

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George, has officially refuted media reports suggesting he issued a directive to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model specifically for the Twi language. Addressing the claims in a public statement, the Minister clarified that recent reports had misinterpreted his discussions with researchers at the university. He emphasized that while he remains supportive of local technological advancement, no formal instruction or mandate was issued to the institution regarding this project.

The clarification follows a report by JoyNews, which indicated that the Minister had tasked the university's Responsible AI Lab with the creation of the Twi-based system. George explained that his visit to the lab involved productive discussions with postgraduate researchers regarding the development of AI systems capable of understanding and processing various Ghanaian languages. However, he noted that these technical deliberations were exploratory in nature and did not constitute an official government directive to the academic body.

In his statement, the Minister underscored the necessity for accurate media representation when reporting on complex technical developments. He noted that while the administration is keen on fostering innovation that caters to local linguistic needs, it is important to distinguish between policy discussions and administrative orders. The development of AI for local languages remains a significant goal for Ghana’s digital landscape to ensure inclusivity, but the Minister maintained that such research initiatives at KNUST proceed through their own established institutional and academic frameworks.