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Ghana’s ICT laws must be urgently reviewed to reflect the realities of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies, Hon. Dr. Abed L. Bandim, Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu Constituency and Chairman of Parliament’s Information and Communications Committee, has said.
Speaking on the final day of the Nyansa Futures 2026 forum in Accra held under the theme _“From Adoption to Ownership: Shaping Africa’s AI Future”, Dr. Bandim said Parliament must act quickly to pass legislation that is _“fit for purpose.”
“As chairman of the Information and Communications Committee, I must be abreast with industry trends to function effectively,” he said.
Outdated Laws Risk Leaving Ghana Behind
Dr. Bandim, who holds a Master’s degree in ICT and Law and a PhD in Communications Management, raised concern that many of Ghana’s key ICT laws are outdated.
He cited the National Communications Authority Act passed in 2008 and the Data Protection Act passed over 15 years ago.
“Today we are talking about AI. We are talking about emerging technologies. All of these are driven by data. If you don’t have a robust data protection law, you are bound to fail,” he stated.
He disclosed that about 15 ICT-related bills are currently with Cabinet, including reviews of the Data Protection law and the *Cyber Security Act passed in 2017.
“When those bills come to Parliament, my committee will take charge and steer them through to pass laws that are fit for purpose,” Dr. Bandim assured.
He stressed that AI is already part of everyday life and Ghana must embrace it with the right policy and legal framework.
“AI is for everyone. We must ensure our laws and policies reflect modern trends so Parliament can do a good job,” he concluded.
"Agency Over AI": Youth Urged to Learn and Own the Technology
Also speaking at the forum, Michael Owusu-Asare, Executive Director of No Limit Consult and Foundation, urged Ghanaian youth to embrace AI, not just as users but as creators who can shape how it works for them.
“The key issue with AI is not just adoption, but agency the ability to influence AI to work for you,” he said.
“AI is a tool. But who owns the AI is what’s important. If you are a youth, you can use AI for so many things to make your work faster and more efficient.”
Mr. Owusu-Asare said even people without technical backgrounds can leverage AI for graphic design, video editing and social media because most platforms already run on AI.
“If you are unemployed, why don’t you teach yourself AI and start teaching people and making money out of it? Whenever anything is new, the ones who take advantage early are the ones who make the most money,” he stated.
A Political Science and Sociology graduate, he said he taught himself video and digital marketing online for free and encouraged youth to use YouTube and community programs to learn AI skills at no cost.
“You don’t need to pay much to learn AI. Just go on YouTube, ask questions, and delve into free opportunities. A lot of youth sit back and lack information. The Bible says for lack of knowledge my people perish,” he said.
He added that AI and IT present the best opportunities for *persons with disabilities* because the work can be done remotely without physical barriers. As a wheelchair user himself, Mr. Owusu-Asare said the sector levels the playing field.
He charged young people not to wait, but to start learning now in order to shape their own future.
Nyansa Futures 2026, a two-day workshop organized by the Beyond AI Movement, brought together policymakers, tech experts, and youth to deliberate on how Africa can move _“From Adoption to Ownership”_ in artificial intelligence.
