By Rachel Kakraba
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, through its Responsible Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address real-world challenges in Ghana.
The project applies innovative approaches across sectors including agriculture, health, energy, water and education. It also promotes disability inclusion through initiatives such as “SignTalk”, a tool designed to bridge communication gaps in healthcare and improve access for people with hearing impairment.
The Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of the Responsible AI Lab, Jerry John Kponyo, disclosed this in an interview with GBCGhanaOnline during a recent capacity-building training on science, technology and innovation for journalists and content creators in Accra.
Workshop
The four-day workshop was organised by the British High Commission Accra in partnership with the Responsible AI Lab at KNUST, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations.
It aimed to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the media by promoting collaboration to make scientific information more accessible to the public.
KNUST RAIL project
KNUST, located in Kumasi, is a leading science and technology-focused university in Ghana. Through the RAIL project, it is developing multidisciplinary solutions using AI to support sustainable development.
The project focuses on applying AI in agriculture, health, energy, education and water management, contributing to efforts to reduce inequalities.
Real-time crop disease diagnosis
Prof Kponyo said AI is improving agricultural monitoring by enabling faster and more precise detection of crop diseases.
“Previously, it took weeks to assess farm conditions. Now, by leveraging AI and large datasets, we can identify problems within seconds,” he said.
He added that the system can also recommend remedies and communicate them to farmers in local languages using natural language processing.
Weather forecasting
The project is also improving weather prediction to support farming.
“We are working to accurately predict rainfall patterns by combining indigenous knowledge with data from the Meteorological Agency, helping farmers decide when to plant,” he said.
Health sector innovations
Prof Kponyo said the lab is making progress in healthcare by using AI to generate MRI images from CT scans, which could reduce costs and improve access for patients.
He added that the technology can also support quicker diagnosis of conditions such as brain tumours.
Rare diseases
He noted that AI is being used to support the diagnosis of rare diseases, which affect an estimated three million Ghanaians.
By analysing genetic and medical data, the system can help identify conditions more quickly and improve treatment outcomes.
SignTalk
The “SignTalk” tool enables communication between healthcare providers and people with hearing impairment.
“The system translates sign language into speech for doctors and converts spoken responses into sign language through an avatar,” he explained.
Intelligent white cane
The lab has also developed an intelligent white cane, known as “I See”, to assist visually impaired people. The device provides real-time information about surroundings and communicates in local languages, improving mobility and independence.
Call for partnerships
Prof Kponyo called for stronger collaboration between universities, industry and government to scale up AI innovations.
He emphasised the need to work with institutions such as the Ghana Health Service to expand the reach of health-related solutions.
He also urged journalists to play a more active role in communicating scientific innovations to the public.
“Our impact is measured by how we transform lives, not just by profit,” he said.
