MTN Ghana has intensified efforts to promote responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by equipping journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with practical skills to integrate the technology into their professional work.
The virtual training programme, organised as part of activities marking the company’s 30th anniversary, focused on helping participants understand the opportunities and limitations of emerging AI tools.
The programme sought to move participants beyond curiosity about AI towards confident, ethical and responsible use of the technology for tasks including research, data analysis and content development.
Madam Efua Falconer, Acting Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at MTN Ghana, urged professionals to adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment to remain relevant.
She stressed the need for professionals, particularly those who did not grow up with rapidly evolving digital technologies, to make deliberate efforts to understand and embrace new technologies.
“It’s very important that, at this point in our lives, we embrace the technologies that are changing and be abreast with what is happening around us,” she said.
Madam Falconer said MTN Ghana had engaged experts in the AI sector to provide journalists and CSO representatives with practical knowledge on how the technology could be applied in their respective fields.
AI must complement human judgement
The training placed particular emphasis on the need for users to verify information generated by AI rather than relying on the technology as an unquestionable source of information.
Mr Samuel Adranyi, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Afrilogic Solutions and one of the facilitators, said AI could be particularly useful as a research and drafting tool but stressed the importance of authenticating information produced by AI systems.
The facilitators demonstrated practical applications of AI in research, data analysis and content creation while highlighting the technology’s limitations.
Other facilitators were Mr Kwame Manu, Senior Manager, Digital Analytics and Monetisation, and Mr Nehemiah Yelu Attigah, Chief Executive Officer of HatuaTech.
Participants were encouraged to regard AI as an assistant to professional work rather than a replacement for human judgement, editorial responsibility and independent verification.
For journalists, the technology can help improve efficiency by supporting research, organising large volumes of information, analysing data and assisting with content development.
Privacy concerns highlighted
The training also drew attention to privacy and data protection, particularly when AI tools are used to process confidential or sensitive information.
Participants were encouraged to exercise caution over the type of information they submit to AI platforms and to consider the potential risks associated with handling sensitive data.
MTN Ghana expressed confidence that the programme would provide participants with practical experience to better understand how AI is transforming professional activities while promoting its ethical and responsible application.
