France–Ghana bilateral program under the Fonds d’Expertise et de Formation – Initiative Africa scheme, which supports collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation between institutions in Ghana and France.
It is coordinated by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, implemented through the French Embassy in Ghana, to fund joint academic, scientific, and institutional projects.
Objective: To situate the project within a broader reflection on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa, issues of digital sovereignty, and the challenges of international cooperation.
Africa has often been approached from the standpoint of a technological gap, with innovation perceived as coming from Western powers to be imported and applied on the continent. However, Ghana demonstrates that an endogenous model of innovation is possible, thanks to local initiatives and emerging talents in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
How can an AI ecosystem be structured in Ghana without replicating patterns of technological dependence on Northern countries?
⮚The aim of this project is precisely to propose a balanced cooperation—one that is not a mere replication of Western models, but a joint construction between France and Ghana.
Contrary to traditional approaches of technological development aid, this project is based on a co-development model.
The ambition is to adopt an approach based on complementarity and knowledge sharing, avoiding the simple export of solutions designed elsewhere.
This approach ensures full involvement of Ghanaian stakeholders in the design and implementation of the project, thus guaranteeing local ownership and sustainability beyond the initial funding.
A key player in AI research and training, its Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) conducts work on ethical and context-appropriate applications of AI for African environments.
A leading research institution in Ghana with expertise in nuclear science, technology, and applications, increasingly active in leveraging AI for health, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Serves as the French scientific partner, working closely with Ghanaian institutions to enhance skills, facilitate knowledge transfer, and provide methodological support.
