The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghanaian technology and research firm, Hallmark Research Lab, to position Ghana as a leader in the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and not merely a consumer.
Hallmark Research Lab, a leading research and advisory foundation that serves a wide range of industries, is at the forefront of breakthroughs in AI, quantum computing and data analytics, advancing science and society.
Under the MoU, Hallmark Research Lab will invest up to $240 million over the next 10 years to bring together the brightest minds from both industry and the university to give them the resources and the freedom to explore the uncharted territories of AI.
The agreement paves the way for the creation of an AI laboratory at UPSA, a development which fits into the President’s special initiative on information and communication technology as well as training a million youth in coding.
The AI lab will provide improved facilities and support for research initiatives, ensuring that UPSA educators are equipped with the skills necessary to prepare students for emerging job markets in the digital age
The Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, was the witness at the signing ceremony at UPSA last Monday.
Speaking at the ceremony, the minister emphasised that AI was an “unstoppable force” that was fundamentally reshaping sectors, from agriculture to finance.
Mr Agyekum, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza South, stated that with Africa having the world’s largest youthful population, the continent was uniquely positioned to drive the technological transformation and create new jobs.
Contrary to fears of job displacement, the minister argued that AI would be a major engine for new employment, creating opportunities in fields such as AI annotation, automated stock trading and cybersecurity.
He urged universities and other educational institutions to prioritise AI-focused curricula to equip the next generation with the skills needed for the emerging markets.
“This focus on education is seen as vital for Ghana’s long-term economic prosperity and its competitive edge in the digital age,” Mr Agyekum stated.
The Executive Chairman of the Hallmark Research Lab, Philip Gamey, said the ceremony went beyond just a signing of a document to an inauguration of a shared future in line with the Presidential Special Initiative on Artificial Intelligence.
“It’s a moment that, I believe, will be looked back upon as a pivotal step in the journey of Artificial Intelligence.”
He added that the world was entering an era where AI was reshaping industries, redefining how people worked, lived and interacted with the world.
“But to truly unlock its full potential, to ensure it serves humanity ethically and effectively, we can’t do it alone.
We need the deep scientific inquiry, the rigorous academic freedom and the diverse perspectives that only a partnership like this can provide,” he said.
Mr Gamey stated that the collaboration between UPSA and Hallmark Research to develop the AI Lab was profoundly important to ensure Ghana took the lead in making fundamental breakthroughs in the area of AI.
“The lab will make Ghana competitive, create opportunities for investments and create high quality jobs.
The Lab will also tackle Ghana’s AI challenge with labour substitution by redesigning jobs and creating opportunities for Ghanaians to prepare for newer and higher earning jobs that have become available now,” he added.
Mr Gamey, a leading information technology (IT) and AI consultant, stressed: “The shared vision for this lab is expansive: from advancing core AI algorithms and understanding natural language, to tackling complex challenges in computer vision and ensuring AI’s ethical development.
Mr Gamey expressed gratitude to the Special Initiatives Minister and the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, for the leadership and welcoming Hallmark Research Lab into an incredible partnership, stressing “Let’s get to work and make history together”.
Transformative partnership
In an address, the Vice-Chancellor hailed the AI Lab partnership with Hallmark Research Lab as transformative for academia and industry.
Prof. Mawutor expressed gratitude and the optimism that the MoU with Hallmark Research Labs to establish an AI laboratory would mark a significant step towards transforming the university’s capacity in AI and IT.
Emphasising a commitment to evolving educational practices, the Vice-Chancellor underscored the need to shift existing rhetoric and build the capacity of lecturers.
The MoU, the Vice-Chancellor said, represented a pivotal moment for UPSA and symbolised a collective step towards realising new dreams and ambitions that would transform Ghana’s economic fortunes.
