KOFI ANOKYE OWUSU-DARKO (BLOG 1)

  INTRODUCTION There is a race underway — and Africa was not told it was running . It is not a race to build the fastest AI system or the most capable model. It is a race to determine whose values, whose philosophy, and whose interests will govern artificial intelligence as it reshapes economies, institutions, and societies across the world. The finish line is not a technological milestone. It is a regulatory framework — and whoever writes the rules first writes them in their own image. At its core, this race is not about technology. It is about power, values, and the interests that will shape the digital future . The European Union has written its rules. The United States has written its rules. China has written its rules. The ASEAN community is developing its rules. The Andean Community is finding its own path. These frameworks differ — sometimes significantly — because each reflects a distinct political philosophy , a particular relationship between the state and technolog...

  INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Finance's introduction of an AI-driven solution—Publican—for customs valuation marks a significant step in Ghana's journey toward digital transformation in public service delivery. By leveraging artificial intelligence to determine Harmonised System (HS) codes and import values, the initiative promises improved efficiency, consistency, and revenue assurance at the ports. While the potential benefits are evident, the deployment of AI in such a sensitive and consequential domain raises important governance, legal, and ethical considerations , particularly in how this ambition is being operationalised. In the context of longstanding concerns around discretionary practices and corruption in customs processes, the introduction of an AI-driven solution is likely to generate significant optimism as a tool for enhancing transparency and control . However, the deployment of AI in public service delivery does not simply resolve one problem ; it h...

  INTRODUCTION The recent decision of the Supreme Court in Gorni v Vodafone Ghana Ltd & Others signals an important shift in the constitutional understanding of privacy under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution . In effect, it reflects a move toward a more risk-based conception of privacy, particularly in the context of SIM registration and digital identity systems. At first glance, the case appears straightforward: an individual discovers that a telephone number has been linked to his Ghana Card without his consent and seeks constitutional redress. The concern is legitimate. In an era of mobile money, digital transactions and identity-linked services, the misuse of identity documents carries real risks. However, beyond the facts lies a deeper legal issue. Did the Supreme Court determine the case within the proper constitutional framework required under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution? Or did it expand the right to privacy beyond what that provision actuall...