AFRICA AI WEEK 2026
Ghana Must Fix Systems Before Chasing AI Hype - Seth Terkper
Ghana's push from Artificial Intelligence ambition to execution took centre stage in Accra today as policymakers, diplomats and innovators converged for the One Vecta Africa AI Week 2026.
forum, being held from September 8-9 at The Palms by Eagles, Accra, under the theme "From Vision to Execution: Building Practical AI Systems to Power Growth, Innovation and Productivity Across Africa", is organised by Mr. Raymond Smith and AlphaVecta Technologies Limited and endorsed by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations.
The event has brought together senior delegates from government, banking, telecommunications and investment, and young innovators , participating in the 48-hour Execute Africa AI Challenge.
Two keynote addresses dominated today's conference - a fiscal reality check from Ghana and an institutional lesson from H.E. Ronald Micallef, Malta's High Commissioner to Ghana
Fix the Plumbing First - Mr.Terkper
Former Finance Minister and now Economic Advisor to the President, Hon. Seth Terkper, cautioned Ghana against treating AI as a shortcut to fixing weak public financial management and tax systems.
Speaking as lead speaker, Mr. Terkper warned that Ghana risks becoming "tech-forward but systems-poor" if it deploys AI on fragmented institutions.
"If you collect VAT invoices through AI... and you don't have a domestic tax system and domestic tax analytics... you are not going anywhere," he told delegates.
He said even if the state captures invoices and receipts through AI, the benefits will evaporate without an integrated fiscal architecture to analyse the data and enforce compliance. AI, he said, would simply automate confusion and become an expensive disruptor.
He urged government to prioritize sequencing - strengthening the four pillar revenue handles of Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Petroleum Tax and Import Duty, and building a comprehensive domestic tax system with strong analytics, including the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS).
He also warned against the proliferation of some 15 minor levies which contribute less than 6% to GDP but distort core tax handles and encourage evasion.
Agility, Institutions and Trust - Malta's Lesson
Sharing Malta's experience, H.E. Ronald Micallef, Malta's High Commissioner to Ghana and Permanent Representative to the African Union, said small states cannot compete on scale, size or energy, but can compete through agility, institutions and trust.
"I sometimes wonder why Malta needs Artificial Intelligence at all. We are so small that everyone already knows what everyone else is thinking," he joked, adding that the central issue is the relationship between AI and people.
High Commissioner Micallef said Malta launched its National AI Strategy in 2019 with a vision to 2030 covering innovation, public and private sector adoption, education, ethics and infrastructure. While the strategy has evolved alongside the European Union AI Act, the lesson remains - ambition requires an institutional foundation.
"Clear accountability matters. Someone must set the standards. Someone must monitor results. Someone has to respond when the system fails," he said.
In Malta, that responsibility sits with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), established by law and designated under the EU AI Act as Malta's notifying authority and principal market surveillance authority.
Micallef outlined three lessons for Ghana:
build trusted institutions, invest in AI literacy for all, and keep technology grounded in human values and national purpose. He stressed that every commitment must have a responsible body, a budget and measurable results, supported by secure digital identity for eligibility, participation and certification.
"You cannot issue certificates, you cannot have reliable AI, unless you know who you are dealing with. A people-centred system must also be secure," he said.
speakers at the event agreed that Africa does not lack ideas, but faces an execution gap that must be bridged through strong institutions, accountable structures and practical systems that make AI useful for public services, business growth and inclusive development.
"You cannot issue certificates, you cannot have reliable AI, unless you know who you are dealing with. A people-centred system must also be secure," he said.
speakers at the event agreed that Africa does not lack ideas, but faces an execution gap that must be bridged through strong institutions, accountable structures and practical systems that make AI useful for public services, business growth and inclusive development.
By. ANITA MENSAH
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