The University of Ghana is partnering with tech giant Google and the Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub to develop speech recognition and AI tools in Ghanaian local languages, a move aimed at improving access to education and digital services across the country.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu shared the news on Facebook after a meeting with Google executives on the sidelines of the Generative AI Summit in the United Kingdom.
“Google is working closely with the University of Ghana and GDI Hub to advance speech recognition and AI tools for Ghanaian languages, including Twi, Ewe, and Dagbani, with a strong focus on non-standard speech to improve accessibility in education and digital services,” Iddrisu wrote.
He said Google has also assured the government that its education tools—including curriculum-aligned content and resources on the responsible use of AI — will be deployed in Ghana on a zero-rated basis, meaning students can access them without data charges.
Ghana is not just participating in the AI revolution; we are helping to shape it for Africa.”
Iddrisu also pushed for the inclusion of Hausa, one of the most widely spoken languages in Ghana and across West Africa, in the development of the AI tools.
“During our engagement, I emphasised the importance of including Hausa, a language spoken widely across Ghana and West Africa. Integrating Hausa will deepen regional inclusion and further strengthen Ghana’s leadership as an AI innovation hub on the continent.”
The initiative builds on Google’s broader investment in Africa’s digital future. In July 2025, the company announced a US$37 million investment in AI research and digital skills development across the continent, including the launch of Africa’s first AI Community Centre in Accra.
The centre is designed as a hub for AI literacy, research and collaboration, and positions Ghana at the heart of Google’s US$1 billion long-term commitment to Africa’s digital transformation.
As part of that investment, Google also awarded a US$3 million grant to the Masakhane Research Foundation to support speech and translation tools for more than 40 African languages.