Mr. David Johnson, Director of Communications and External Affairs of Newmont Africa, has described Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an incubation of possibilities for the youth in Ghana.
He pointed out that in a world fiercely driven by technology, skills in deep learning quantum computing, and big data, AI would not only help Ghanaian children to catch up with their global peers but would also enable them to be frontrunners in the technology space.
Mr. Johnson was addressing the Chiefs and People of Toase in the AtwimaNwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, during the commissioning of a GHc 285,000.00 AI Laboratory centre constructed by the company in partnership with the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation and the Coral Reef Innovation Africa.
He emphasised that communities often overlooked Information Technology (IT) due to their distance from urban centres and lack of infrastructure.
However, these communities were often overflowing with talent, creativity and ambition that deserved the opportunity to thrive.
Mr. Johnson said it was against this backdrop that Newmont and the Otumfuo Foundation took a bold step forward in bridging the digital divide and laying an inclusive futuren through AI Smart Laboratory Initiative.
He pointed out that the construction and commissioning of Smart Laboratories represented a powerful symbol of empowerment, inclusion and a shared value placed on investing in human potential.
Mr. Johnson said Newmont, together with its partners, had in the last three years, provided six AI laboratories valued at GHc 1.7 million, leading the implementation, managing the facilities, ensuring sustainability and excellence across the country.
Nana Pokuah Amoako, the Municipal Director of Education said the integration of digital literacy and computer skills including AI had been included into formal education to help equip children with the needed tools and skills to thrive in a fast- changing digital world.
She explained that a McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 800 million workers representing about 1in 5 in work processes could be displaced by automation or introduction of technologies by the year 2030.
She, therefore, commended the Sponsors for their contribution in IT learning in the area since it was an inseparable part of daily lives and turned the whole world into a global village, which transformed communication, education, business and other sectors.
“Any nation that fails to embrace technology risks being left behind in the journey of development”, she stated.
Nana Yim Awere Ababio, Toasehene stressed the need for each and every one to give out his maximum best effort to contribute to nation building.
He said, when people demonstrated commitment and patriotism at work places, in positions and within all their endeavors, citizens’ individual corners could be brightened and collectively, be transformed into national development.
He said it was his dream to develop his town when he assumed his throne about six years ago with the available resources as a contribution to accelerate development under the Otumfuo Foundation.
Nana Ayim Ababio mentioned education, potable water supply, sanitation and environmental protection as his targeted areas in that vision.
He urged the teachers to give out their usual best performance to ensure the full benefit of the facility to the children.
He also told the children to take their studies seriously so that they could achieve higher levels of laurels and become useful more citizens to their communities in future.
GNA
