Indigenous Knowledge Systems and AI Development in Ghana: A Synthesis Approach

Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Ghana encompass a rich tapestry of traditional practices and beliefs that have evolved over centuries. These systems are deeply intertwined with local environment, social structures, and cultural values. A synthesis approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews with stakeholders representing various sectors of society to understand current AI practices and their integration potential with IKS. Interviews revealed that approximately 60% of participants perceived a need for more culturally-sensitive applications in AI, indicating a significant opportunity for innovation. While preliminary, the findings suggest that integrating IKS could lead to more socially acceptable and sustainable AI solutions in Ghana. Future research should focus on developing prototype AI systems incorporating IKS principles and validating these through user acceptance studies. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.