The Board Chairman of the Otumfuo Foundation, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie – Adjei Woahene II underscored the opportunities and challenges AI presents in the education sector.
The Otumfuo Foundation, in partnership with Adwinsa Publications, joined the global community in commemorating International Education Day, calling on policymakers to prioritize resource allocation for artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
The initiative, the Foundation says, will equip future generations with the necessary skills to navigate an increasingly automated world while ensuring AI is used responsibly.
Speaking at the event, the Board Chairman of the Otumfuo Foundation, Nana Prof Oheneba Boachie – Adjei Woahene II underscored the opportunities and challenges AI presents in the education sector. He emphasized the importance of training both teachers and students to responsibly utilize AI technology.
“The time has come and now is the time policy makers to invest in training both teachers and students on the responsible use of this technology within the field of education. As we celebrate 2025 International Day of Education, let this year’s theme draw the attention of all policy makers and stakeholders including the government to the need to intentionally allocate resources towards AI, with a concerted effort to prepare the next generation of people who will be globally competitive in the world of AI”, he stressed.
Nana Addae Gyamera, Feyiasehene, also emphasized the need to establish safeguards against AI risks while ensuring its accessibility to underserved communities. He highlighted the importance of protecting children from potential misuse of AI technologies.
Also at the event was the Deputy Ashanti Regional Education Director, Thomas Kwame Boateng, who noted that AI is rapidly transforming various aspects of life, particularly in education, by simplifying mundane tasks. However, he stressed that these advancements should complement human skills rather than replace them.
For his part, Chief Executive Officer of Adwinsa Publications, Mr. George Amponsah added that as Ghana has made significant strides towards formal education the free senior high school implemented by the previous government should be reviewed rather abolished as indicated by the incumbent government.
“What we are saying today, being the International Day of Education, is we are excited, especially for the new government to say the free education policy has come to stay. But what we in the education space are urging the government to do is, no matter the advice that the government gets, the promise to ensure that the policy is not changed, should remain as it is. We are urging the government to look at and to resolve any issues but not to cancel the free education policy”, he said.
This year’s International Education Day, themed “Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation”, was marked with a donation of 2,500 storybooks by Adwinsa Publications to support the Foundation’s mandate of promoting quality education.