Ghana’s Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, announced on January 23, 2026, that the government plans to introduce artificial intelligence tools tailored to major Ghanaian languages, including Twi, Ewe and Dagbani, as part of efforts to enhance access to quality education and digital services across the country. The announcement came during the ongoing Generative AI Summit in the United Kingdom, where Mr. Iddrisu engaged with international partners on AI’s role in Ghana’s digital transformation.
Mr. Iddrisu said the initiative builds on high-level discussions with Google’s vice president and AI leadership, with a focus on leveraging advanced AI technology to support teaching, learning and broader educational outcomes. Under the plan, Google is working with the University of Ghana and the GDI Hub on developing speech recognition systems and AI tools that understand and process Ghanaian languages like Twi, Ewe and Dagbani, and the minister has advocated for inclusion of Hausa to strengthen regional utility.
The tools are expected to be deployed in Ghana at no cost to users, with commitments that education-focused AI resources will be zero-rated, meaning they can be accessed without data charges, promoting equitable access regardless of location or income. Mr. Iddrisu said the content will be aligned with school curricula and include guidance on the responsible use of AI in both teaching and learning, helping ensure that expanded AI adoption remains safe, useful and contextually relevant.
This move aligns with broader government goals to position Ghana as a leading hub for AI innovation in Africa and reflects a wider push to adapt technology to local linguistic and educational contexts. Other government initiatives have highlighted the importance of building AI in ways that respect local languages and cultures and ensure that advanced technologies benefit learners in rural and urban areas alike. For example, Ghana’s national AI strategy includes commitments to develop models that serve local languages, helping bridge digital divides and support inclusive growth.
Ghana’s language landscape is diverse, with Ghanaian languages such as Akan (including Twi), Ewe and Dagbani widely spoken alongside English, the official language. (For reference, Twi and Ewe each have several million speakers, with Dagbani spoken by over a million people in the northern parts of the country.)
Haruna Iddrisu Orders Immediate Use of Local Languages in Ghanaian Classrooms