A Principal Software Engineer for Microsoft and Disability Rights Advocate, Farida Bedwei has called on Africans to take a proactive stance towards Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Farida Bedwei emphasized the importance of African developers building upon existing frameworks to ensure that the continent is not caught off guard by the rapid advancements in AI technology.

She believes that Africa has a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and application of AI solutions that cater to the continent's specific needs and challenges.

The co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Logiciel Limited made these comments during a panel discussion at the University of Ghana to commemorate the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA).

It was organised by the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), the research support arm of the University of Ghana.

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For her, it is crucial for African developers to help shape the trajectory of AI in Africa and ensure its benefit to all segments of society.

“We need to be proactive and not reactive,” she said on Friday, June 30.

This mandate, Ms Bedwei believes, must not be limited to technologists.

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She suggested that the regulations governing also need to be tweaked to make room for some of the anticipated disruptions.

“We need to build our laws and institutions so that we’re not taken by surprise,” Ms Bedwei stressed.

The disability rights advocate emphasized the need to ensure inclusiveness in the development of AI tools highlighting key groups such as the vulnerable and persons with disability.

Another important point for her was that innovators must not seek to develop solutions for African problems without the involvement of Africans.

The Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) is commemorated on June 30 each year following an African Union (AU) resolution in July 1987.

It is meant to showcase the continent’s contribution to the development of science and technology given that its story with regard to research, science and technology is usually left untold.

Also present at the event was Digital Transformation Consultant and Policy Advisor Derry Dean Dadzie.

He emphasised the importance of Africa defining and addressing its own unique challenges to drive scientific advancement.

As the CEO of Heritors Lab, Dadzie believes that by focusing on solving problems specific to the continent, Africa can carve out niches and leverage its distinct advantages to fuel its transformation.

Vice Chancellor of the Unversity of Ghana, Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, expressed the institution's dedication to promoting the spirit of the DSRA.

This commitment aligns with the university's internationalization efforts, its goal of becoming a research-intensive institution, and its mission to contribute to Ghana and Africa's science and technology objectives by engaging the communities involved.

The Vice-Chancellor praised the university's active participation in the DSRA, highlighting it as a demonstration of their support for using the event as a platform to showcase scientific innovations, scholarly activities, and research conducted by the university community.

She also declared the new e-books written by the school's lecturers launched.

This is the second year running of the University's active participation in the DSRA.

Other speakers who were at the Friday ceremony were the University's Pro VC Prof Felix Asante, entrepreneur, Joseph Owiredu, Prof Irene Egyir of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and Prof John Effah of the Department of Operation and Management Information Systems at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS).

Students from some selected senior high schools were also in attendance.