By Desmond Tinana
The Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Professor Hugh Keku Aryee, has reaffirmed his commitment to helping train 11 million Africans in artificial intelligence (AI) under the Africa AI Project, describing it as one of the most ambitious technology capacity-building initiatives ever introduced on the continent. He made the announcement in Accra during the Eminent West Africa Nobles Forum and End-of-Year Congress and Award Night.
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Aryee stated that Africa must take bold steps to avoid missing another industrial revolution, having witnessed the previous three pass by with little benefit to the continent. He stressed that the Africa AI Project, led by the Vanuatu Trade Commission, Ghana, in partnership with the African Diaspora Central Bank, signalled the beginning of a continental awakening in which Africans would become drivers rather than passive consumers of technology.
He explained that the training programme aims to equip Africans with practical digital and data skills to help transform key sectors including education, agriculture, healthcare, finance and public administration. According to him, the initiative is already being implemented in Ghana, where several universities and institutions have received intensive AI capacity-building support.
So far institutions including Accra Technical University, Sunyani Technical University, Ho Technical University, Wisconsin International University College and corporate bodies such as the Ghana Free Zones Authority, the Zoomlion Group and a number of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have benefited from the initiative. The training, he said, is enhancing institutional efficiency, improving service delivery and helping workers adopt modern digital tools.
Ambassador Aryee explained that the project’s objective goes beyond skill acquisition. He said it seeks to inspire home-grown innovation where young Africans develop AI-powered solutions addressing local needs such as digital marketplaces for farmers, automation tools for agriculture and financial technology platforms that widen access to credit and savings services.
He emphasised that building an ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem is central to the project. This includes promoting responsible data use, strengthening digital rights, and ensuring that no citizen or community is left behind in the emerging digital economy.
Highlighting the broader work of the Vanuatu Trade Commission, Ambassador Aryee noted that the Commission continues to act as a bridge between Africa and the Pacific, supporting bilateral trade and innovation partnerships. He said the partnerships focus on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, tourism, climate resilience and knowledge-sharing programmes designed to strengthen institutions across both regions.
The Trade Commissioner also cited the potential of digital finance tools such as the AKL Lumi, which he described as a symbol of Africa’s journey toward economic independence and stronger regional integration. He said the integration of AI into digital currency systems would enhance financial inclusion, improve transaction security and open new opportunities for small businesses to participate in cross-border trade.
Ambassador Aryee urged policymakers, universities and industry leaders to prioritise digital skills development and invest in programmes that prepare Africa’s workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He said the Africa AI Project demonstrates that the continent is ready to build its own path in the global digital economy, adding that the future belongs to countries that empower their people with relevant technological knowledge.
He concluded with a call for unity and collaboration, stressing that Africa must seize this moment to build a confident, innovative and globally competitive continent.
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