MTN Ghana and the University of Ghana (UG) have signed an MoU to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital innovation and talent development.
The partnership will support the MTN Digital Excellence Award and MTN DigiTech AI Hackathon 2026, giving students opportunities to develop practical AI solutions to local challenges through mentorship, incubation, industry exposure and potential real-world deployment.
MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett said Ghana must leverage its growing pool of talent to develop homegrown AI solutions across sectors including agriculture and infrastructure, rather than relying solely on technologies developed elsewhere.
MTN Ghana Chief Digital Officer Ibrahim Misto challenged young Ghanaians to move beyond being consumers of technology and become developers and innovators solving local problems. Through UG’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab, promising ideas will be developed into functional prototypes and potentially scaled for wider use.
UG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo stressed the need for stronger industry-academia partnerships to prepare students for an AI-driven future. She also highlighted the importance of inclusive technology, including projects such as Tɛkyerɛma Pa, an AI speech-recognition initiative focused on Ghanaian languages and accessibility for people with speech impairments.
The partnership is expected to strengthen industry-relevant skills, AI research, innovation and digital competitiveness, while creating pathways for students to turn academic knowledge into solutions with real social and economic impact.
Source : www. newsghana.com.gh
