Story by Paul Mensah Nsor
Beyond AI is mobilizing ordinary Ghanaians to shape how artificial intelligence (AI) is understood, governed and applied particularly in agriculture and rural communities, Technology policy advocate and Founder of Beyond AI, Kambale Musavuli has urged African communities to take a more active role in shaping artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the continent must lead conversations on the technology to safeguard food sovereignty and social welfare.
Speaking at the sixth edition of the Beyond AI Series workshop held at the Accra Digital Centre, Musavuli said the event, themed “Feeding the Future or Feeding the System? AI, Agriculture and Africa’s Food Sovereignty,” was designed to bridge knowledge gaps and promote critical dialogue on AI’s societal impact.
Founder of the Beyond AI , Musavuli noted that while AI dominates global discourse, many ordinary citizens lack access to platforms where they can understand the technology and its implications.
“We want to build a platform where people can learn what is happening around AI, but also challenge the narratives surrounding it. Human intelligence still has the unique capacity to make ethical decisions that artificial intelligence cannot fully replicate,” he said.
Musavuli said the Beyond AI Movement draws inspiration from Ghana’s National AI Strategy, particularly its emphasis on AI literacy and education. He explained that the movement’s activities are community-driven, with discussion topics selected based on concerns raised by participants.
This year’s focus on agriculture, he noted, emerged from growing public interest in how AI could influence food production, disease control, labour markets, and food security.
“Will AI help us feed the future, or will it simply feed the system by collecting data and producing solutions that are not relevant to our realities? These are the questions we must ask,” he said.
He cautioned that while AI-powered agricultural technologies and robotics could improve productivity, policymakers must consider the impact on rural workers and day labourers whose livelihoods depend on agricultural employment.
Musavuli called for a nationwide expansion of AI literacy programmes and urged individuals and organizations across the country to replicate the Beyond AI initiative in their communities.
Describing the movement as African-led, he stressed the need for Africans to shape the continent’s AI future rather than remain passive consumers of foreign technologies.
He also emphasized inclusivity, underscoring the need to involve women, youth, and persons with disabilities in AI discussions. He cited how feedback from a wheelchair user at a previous event led to improved venue accessibility, and praised software developer and disability advocate Farida Bedwei for inspiring young participants with her work in technology.
Mr. Francis Kwasi Korankye, Deputy Director of Agriculture at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, emphasized that data governance must be central to the country’s AI approach. “AI in agriculture should be seen as a national security domain,” he said, warning that the location and control of agricultural data must be transparent and accountable to Ghanaian law to prevent misuse.
He outlined a multi-pronged approach to safeguarding food security and modernizing the sector. Annual production targets and regular national stocktakes are being used to identify deficits and prioritize interventions, with particular attention paid to high-consumption categories such as poultry. The Ministry is implementing programs, including initiatives referenced as “'Nkoko Nketenkete.'” to raise local poultry production and reduce reliance on imports.
Addressing chronic post-harvest losses and transport bottlenecks, officials acknowledged that efficient logistics remain a major challenge. To reduce costs for farmers and improve market access, the government has pledged to provide key inputs, most notably fertilizer, free of charge this year, and to subsidize fuel to lower transportation fares. “These interventions will help bring produce from remote areas into urban markets,” Mr. Korankye said, noting that many critical decisions are being coordinate7d at Cabinet level.
Technology and youth engagement are central themes of the Ministry’s modernization agenda. The Ministry is subsidizing mechanized implements to make them more affordable, and is promoting smart agriculture tools, such as drones and AI-driven application of agrochemicals, to increase productivity and attract younger workers. Officials argue that modern mechanization can shift perceptions of farming from a punitive task to a viable livelihood. “We need to sensitize people that agriculture is not a punishment, but an economic activity that can generate livelihoods,” Mr. Korankye said.
However, He cautioned that the benefits of AI come with responsibilities. Farmers must be empowered to interrogate and validate AI-generated recommendations. The Ministry plans training and sensitization programs to ensure farmers can critically assess the outputs of AI systems and adopt technologies safely and effectively.
Joseph Lawrence Hammond Executive Director and Head of Innovation and Digital Inclusion at EmpowerAbility org. said the longstanding marginalization of people with physical, visual and hearing impairments must end.
“We have been marginalizing them… It’s about time we get them into our national discussions,” he said. “PWDs bring intelligence, innovation and unique potential that should be tapped rather than treated as objects of pity.”
Hammond argued that inclusion must be intentional and systemic. He pointed to existing structures such as national disability unions and international disability caucuses at UN forums, but questioned whether these groups are truly included in policy and strategy discussions.
“Are we getting them involved to talk about inclusivity? How are we integrating assistive technologies into this whole strategy?” he asked.
The advocate linked disability inclusion to broader national priorities, including economic development and climate policy. He warned that discussions on business and climate change remain incomplete if PWDs are excluded.
“If you want to feed the future, get all involved,” Hammond said, urging planners to design policies that include marginalized groups—women and PWDs among them—instead of focusing only on able-bodied populations.
His remarks reflect a growing call among disability rights activists in Ghana for practical measures: integrating assistive technologies into national strategies, ensuring disability caucuses have representation in policymaking forums, and shifting resources toward capacity-building and productivity support.
With Ghana developing its digital and AI strategies, Hammond said inclusion must be built into planning from the start to avoid further exclusion and to leverage the talents of PWDs for national growth.
The Beyond AI Series continues to position itself as a public forum for demystifying AI and ensuring African perspectives guide how the technology is developed and deployed on the continent.
