Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds vast potential to accelerate Ghana’s progress on the Human Development Index (HDI) by improving access, service delivery and innovation, according to the 2024/2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The report, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI”, outlines how AI can help Ghana improve across the three core dimensions of human development: health, education and standard of living.

In healthcare, the report notes that AI could revolutionise service delivery through predictive analytics, remote diagnostics and virtual consultations, enabling earlier disease detection and more efficient treatment, particularly in underserved areas. In education, AI-enabled platforms can help personalise learning, alleviate teacher shortages, and offer adaptive tools that cater to students' varying needs.

When it comes to employment and income, AI could open up new job opportunities in digital services, boost productivity in agriculture and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and make public services more responsive.

The report also examines key development indicators for Ghana, including life expectancy at birth, maternal mortality, gross national income, labour force participation among adults aged 15 and over, and female representation in Parliament. 

It concludes that while Ghana has laid a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth, it must address critical capability gaps—particularly in gender equity, disability inclusion and transitions from education to employment—if it is to unlock its full development potential in a rapidly changing global environment.

The Human Development Report goes beyond traditional economic analysis to measure progress in terms of health, education and living standards. For Ghana, the report serves as a vital reference point for policymakers, civil society, development partners and citizens by highlighting disparities and guiding decisions on equitable investment and human capital development.

The 2024/2025 report was launched in Accra on Wednesday, July 9, at an event that sought to localise its global findings and foster national dialogue. The gathering brought together stakeholders including policymakers, academics, development partners and civil society groups. It featured a presentation of the global report followed by a panel discussion under the theme “Choices and Possibilities in Ghana’s Digital Future.”

Among those in attendance were UNDP Ghana Resident Representative Niloy Banerjee, Deputy Resident Representative Shaima Hussein, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission Dr Nii Moi Thompson, and UNDP Governance and Inclusive Growth Specialist Dr Edward Ampratwum.

Panel discussants included Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast Dr Stephen Moore, Chief Statistician at the Ghana Statistical Service Jacqueline Dede Anum, NDPC Commissioner and economist Professor William Baah-Boateng, and Country Manager of Farmerline, Worlali Senyo. The session was moderated by Seth Akumani, Digital Portfolio Lead at UNDP Ghana.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Banerjee called for increased investment in AI research to unlock its full benefits for Ghana’s economy and society. He said the 2024/2025 theme was especially timely as it addressed both the opportunities and the risks that come with the rise of artificial intelligence.

“This year, the theme is particularly about the opportunities that AI brings, but also what we need to safeguard against; what we need to be vigilant about in the use of AI,” he said. He noted that while AI can support progress in agriculture through better planning and market access, it also carries the risk of becoming a tool for further exclusion.

He emphasised that access to AI must not be restricted to the elite or those with higher education. “What we have to worry about is that AI doesn't become yet another elite tool—something only people with university degrees or digital access can use—while the rest fall further behind. It shouldn't create a new kind of inequality on top of the ones we already face,” he warned.

Mr Banerjee stressed that AI must be guided by human needs and priorities. “It’s about whether AI will help us progress in human development, or whether we’ll allow AI to run our lives. There’s immense potential. As the panel highlighted, AI can help farmers predict rainfall and plan planting schedules. But we must be careful not to allow it to deepen existing divides.”

He identified four key stakeholders in ensuring inclusive AI adoption in Ghana: government, which must develop policies and enforce data protection; universities, which should educate future generations on digital skills; line ministries, which must extend AI’s benefits to local communities; and the private sector, which must ensure that the economic benefits of AI are shared equitably.

“The private sector must look at how AI can be used not only to grow their business but also to make that growth inclusive. It’s not just about benefits for those who speak English or went to elite schools—it’s about everyone along the value chain,” he said.

Why Human Development Report for Ghana

The Human Development Report provides a comprehensive account of human progress beyond economic
growth. It employs critical dimensions including health (longevity), education, and standard of living (PPP).

For Ghana, this report offers Ghanaian policy makers, development partners, CSOs and the citizens a
scorecard of Ghana's progress in inclusive development. 

It also serves as a benchmark for assessing equity, social investment impact, and even human capital development because it highlights where disparities exist. The HDI is essential for shaping targeted policies that leave no one behind.