‘Africa Must Not Surrender Its Humanity to Machines in the Name of Progress’

A Ghanaian Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert has issued a stark warning as the world rushes to embrace algorithmic governance: “Africa must not surrender its humanity to machines in the name of progress.”

Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Co-Chair of the fourth Pan-African Artificial Intelligence and Smart Systems (PA-AISS) Conference and Scientific Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL), delivered the caution on Wednesday at the IDL Conference Centre, KNUST. The event brought together scholars, technologists, and policymakers from across the globe for the continent’s premier AI summit.

His call comes as nations worldwide race to appoint AI systems to cabinet positions and hand over critical governance decisions to algorithms—a trend Prof. Kponyo views with deep concern.

“AI should enable us to be better, not take over from us,” he declared before a packed auditorium, describing the global trend as a dangerous experiment fraught with ethical perils that demand urgent safeguards.

Prof. Kponyo noted that many countries are taking bold steps to integrate AI into public governance and key economic sectors, with some even appointing agentic AI systems as cabinet ministers.

“AI and smart systems offer tremendous potential in transforming the world, but we must ensure there are guardrails in their use so they do not pose an existential threat to humanity,” he cautioned.

“It is my strongest opinion that AI and emerging technologies should always enable humans to be better at what we do and not take over from us. There must always be human oversight in the deployment of emerging technologies, with safeguards to pull the plug should an agentic AI go rogue,” he emphasised.

The three-day conference (October 15-17) comes at a critical juncture, with Africa at a crossroads: to become a pioneer of responsible, home-grown AI solutions or remain perpetual consumers of foreign technologies designed without African realities in mind.

Prof. Kponyo highlighted KNUST’s leadership under Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson, noting that the university has become a continental hub for responsible AI—championing ethical innovation rooted in community impact and aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 17 on global partnerships.

Drawing on insights from the recent AI for Africa Conference in Cape Town, he spotlighted the continent’s greatest asset: “Africa’s median age of 19 makes it the world’s youngest and most dynamic population—a demographic dividend that positions the continent for technological leadership.”

But that advantage, he warned, could be squandered without urgent investment in capacity building across AI, Quantum Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain technologies.

In a passionate appeal, Prof. Kponyo urged African intellectuals abroad to return home and help build the continent’s technological capacity.

“With the current geopolitics and hostile environment for academics abroad, it is time to come home so we build together,” he said, assuring diaspora scholars that KNUST remains a welcoming hub for innovation and growth.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson affirmed the university’s commitment to AI transformation, declaring that KNUST is ready to leverage AI across teaching, learning, research, and innovation.

“AI has come to stay,” Prof. Dickson stated, emphasising that students are being prepared to harness the technology responsibly as the institution positions itself at the forefront of Africa’s technological future.

The conference, organised by the RAIL team led by Dr Justice Owusu Agyemang, brought together experts to explore frameworks ensuring AI serves humanity rather than replacing it.

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

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