Ghana’s Education Ministry Embraces AI, Local Developers Cry Foul
Ghana’s Ministry of Education (MoE) unveiled plans in late October 2025 to introduce AI-driven mobile and web applications designed to bolster teaching and learning in senior high schools (SHSs). This ambitious project, a collaborative effort with key educational bodies, has however sparked controversy within the local AI community.
# AI Partnership Controversy
The MoE stated that it would work alongside the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), the National Teaching Council (NTC), the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), and the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS) to develop these subject-specific applications. But the Ministry’s decision to partner with Playlab AI, an ed-tech startup based in the United States, for the AI component has drawn criticism. Local AI startups have voiced their concerns, claiming they were not consulted or considered for the project despite possessing the expertise and understanding of the local context. The MoE emphasized that the apps would leverage Ghanaian curriculum materials, including teacher manuals, learner resources, and national values, while also promoting gender equality and inclusion.
While the initiative aims to modernize education in Ghana, the lack of engagement with local AI talent raises questions about the government’s commitment to fostering the growth of its own tech industry and leveraging homegrown solutions for national development. This situation highlights a broader challenge in the African tech ecosystem: ensuring that local expertise is prioritized and utilized in government-led initiatives, especially in rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence.
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