The symposium, under the theme: “Sustainable Economic and Social Development in West Africa: AI Empowerment and Innovation”, is a collaboration between the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Ambassador Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, who delivered a keynote address that linked AI directly to national economic output, emphasised “that the true value of AI lies in its application to Ghana’s real economy”.
He urged the delegates to visualise a near future where digital infrastructure fundamentally altered national output.

The Ambassador asked the delegates to imagine how widely applying AI technology in Tema Port, in the cultivation of cassava and cocoa, and in the construction of the Volta Economic Corridor, would greatly enhance the production efficiency and economic development of Ghana.

Ambassador Tong framed these proposals within the broader context of the recent FOCAC Summit in Beijing and the upcoming “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”.
He pledged China’s commitment to helping developing nations bridge the “intelligent divide”, ensuring that West Africa secured a distinct voice and representation in the global governance of AI.
Welcoming delegates to the opening ceremony, on November 19, the Rector of GIMPA, Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, recalled the inaugural ISWAS at UCC in 2017, and the subsequent Smart City themed event at UESTC in China.

Prof Bonsu emphasised that for the West African region, artificial intelligence held enormous potential and it was expected to become a key driving force for achieving sustainable development goals.
Prof Rosemond Boohene, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of UCC, however, cautioned against adopting technology solely for speed.
She highlighted that for the region to overcome challenges, such as climate vulnerability and educational gaps, the demographic dividend of West Africa’s youth must be armed with high-level digital skills.

Prof Boohene also emphasised that as artificial intelligence reshaped industries, governance, and social systems, West Africa must position itself not only as a participant but as a leader.
She expressed concern about the lack of Artificial Intelligence in the context of the West African region, stating that the problem was not in resisting technology but in the lack of West African context in the AI space.

Speaking on how AI can be used to enhance productivity and efficiency within the public sector, a former head of Local Government Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, called for a stronger AI policy governance and regulation to ensure the ethical use and application of AI across all sectors of the public service.

The symposium featured six parallel expert seminars, with 56 scholars and practitioners who moved the dialogue from policy to practice.

These technical sessions explored the critical intersections of the AI Empowerment theme, ranging from the application of big data analytics in public administration, national security, and social governance to strategies for the digital preservation of West African cultural heritage.

The seventh International Symposium for West Africa Studies (ISWAS) is being held with the strategic support of the Ghana Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Centre for West Africa Studies (CEWAS).

The symposium is also co-hosted by Global Afrisino, whose involvement underscores the critical role of private sector investment in digital capacity building.
The eighth ISWAS is expected to be bigger since it will be in the context of the China-Africa 2026-China-Africa Year of people to people exchange.