Accra: Machine Learning Engineer and researcher, Dr Kwame Ardiabah, has called for the establishment of a national data centre to support research, innovation and technological development in Ghana.
According to Ghana Web, one of the biggest challenges facing researchers in the country is the limited availability of structured and accessible data needed to develop advanced technological solutions. Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV's BizTech segment with Mawuli Ahorlumegah, Dr Ardiabah revealed that he encountered significant difficulties obtaining sufficient local data while developing the Intelligent Collision and Safety Surveillance Detection (ICSSD) system, an AI-powered model designed to help prevent road accidents.
"My wish is that Ghana will build a data centre where we can have collective data that researchers and students can access. When I was training the model, I needed over a million accident records, but I could not get enough local data," he said. He explained that the shortage of local datasets compelled him to rely heavily on accident records and other data from countries such as India and Canada to complete his research.
According to Dr Ardiabah, strengthening the country's data collection, storage and management systems would empower Ghanaian researchers to develop technologies and solutions tailored to local challenges. He further stressed that data engineering is rapidly emerging as one of the most critical fields in the global technology ecosystem and urged policymakers to prioritise investments in the sector.
"The young people in Ghana have enormous potential. If we build the right data infrastructure and invest in data engineering, we can create jobs and produce technologies that solve our own problems," he noted. Ardiabah added that a national data centre would not only reduce Ghana's dependence on foreign data sources but also strengthen research, innovation, policymaking and planning across key sectors of the economy.
He maintained that improving access to quality data is essential if Ghana is to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies for national development.