Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has indicated that Google is currently working closely with the University of Ghana and GDI Hub to advance speech recognition and AI tools for Ghanaian languages including Twi, Ewe, and Dagbani to improve learning outcomes.
The groundbreaking initiative will significantly lower barriers to learning and digital participation as its focus extends beyond formal or standardised speech, targeting non-standard speech patterns often excluded from global AI systems, thereby improving accessibility in classrooms and public digital services.
Speaking on the engagement, Haruna Iddrisu noted that these language-focused innovations are essential to transforming education outcomes, underscoring the belief that AI systems must reflect the linguistic realities of African societies if they are to be truly effective.
He noted that the Hausa language widely spoken in Ghana and the Sub-Saharan region, is not only a cultural element that transcends boundaries but vital for unifying the sub-region and positioning Ghana as a leader in AI innovation on the continent.
“During our engagement, I emphasised the importance of including Hausa, a language spoken widely across Ghana and West Africa. Integrating Hausa will deepen regional inclusion and further strengthen Ghana’s leadership as an AI innovation hub on the continent.” he said
The development of AI tools in local languages is widely viewed as a critical step in bridging long-standing education gaps, particularly for early learners and students in rural communities who are more likely to learn and communicate in indigenous languages.
This will complement Ghana’s education ministry’s efforts to make the mother tongue a compulsory language of instruction at he basic level as AI-powered learning platforms that operate in familiar languages can improve comprehension, participation, and retention among students.
Beyond education, speech recognition in local languages is also expected to expand access to digital services, from public information portals to health and civic platforms. By enabling technology to understand everyday speech, proponents say AI can become a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
deepen regional inclusion and support cross-border digital collaboration, positioning Ghana as a continental leader in multilingual AI development.
The push for language-inclusive AI aligns with Google’s expanding investment in Africa’s digital future. In July 2025, Google announced a US$37 million investment in AI research and digital skills development across Africa, including the establishment of a new AI Community Center in Accra.
This initiative forms part of Google’s broader US$1 billion commitment to Africa’s digital transformation, a move that has firmly positioned Ghana as a key hub in the company’s long-term strategy for AI research, skills development, and innovation on the continent.
A major outcome of the UK engagement was a firm assurance regarding education access. According to the Ghanaian delegation, Google’s Director of Operations for Africa and the Gemini lead confirmed that Google’s education tools would be deployed in Ghana on a zero-rated basis. The move is expected to eliminate data cost barriers for learners and teachers, ensuring that access to digital learning tools is not determined by income or geographic location.
The zero-rated deployment will include curriculum-aligned educational content as well as resources on the responsible use of AI in teaching and learning, an area of growing concern as generative AI becomes more prominent in academic environments.
“I am also pleased to share that I received firm assurance from Google’s Director of Operations for Africa and the Gemini lead that Google’s education tools will be deployed in Ghana on a zero-rated basis.” he stated
With sustained collaboration, language inclusion, and expanded access to education tools, Ghana is positioning itself as more than a passive recipient of technological change. “Ghana is not just participating in the AI revolution, we are helping to shape it for Africa,” Haruna stated, framing the country’s approach as one rooted in leadership, inclusion, and long-term continental impact.
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