Experts say Ghana is well-positioned to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform its public health systems and overcome long-standing epidemiological challenges.

This was the central consensus of leading experts at the recent 8th Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP) Scientific Conference and Graduation in Accra.

The event was on the theme, "Artificial Intelligence Innovations in Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Response."

The conference marked a significant step from theory to practice with the official "Launch of GFELTP Innovations," including the "GFELTP Nexus" and an AI-incorporated online mentorship platform.

These tools signal a direct commitment to embedding AI into the core training and workflow of the nation's field epidemiologists.

Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the nation's strong foundation in field epidemiology, coupled with a clear vision from its health leadership, provided a robust platform for AI integration.

The DG outlined the potential of AI to Ghana's healthcare sector, stressing that it could predict disease threats, optimise the allocation of limited resources, and guide precise, life-saving interventions.

Dr. Akorliye stressed the ethical considerations in the utilisation of AI, noting that it helps health experts to predict and model.
However, he said, the final decision depended on the human judgment to act.
He confirmed that the GHS had proactively developed ethical guidelines for AI use, addressing data privacy and governance concerns.

A 2023 study by The Lancet Digital Health demonstrated that AI models using satellite imagery and mobile phone data could predict malaria outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa with over 85 per cent accuracy up to three months in advance.

The World Health Organization reports that AI-assisted diagnostic tools for diseases like tuberculosis have shown the ability to improve detection rates by 10-20 per cent in Sub-Saharan African countries like Ghana.

Prof. Ebenezer Owusu, Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Ghana, revealed the advantages AI offered to Ghana's healthcare sector.

He cited global successes, such as AI-driven flu surveillance cutting detection times by 60 per cent in the US.

Prof. Owusu noted that AI is a present-day necessity, not a distant future. "The future of African public health demands precision, speed, and contextual intelligence. This is precisely where Al begins to redefine our capabilities."
He highlighted specific AI innovations where Ghana's existing health infrastructure could be augmented.

"These include Predictive Outbreak Modelling, where AI can analyse local climate, mobility, and sanitation data to forecast outbreaks of diseases like malaria and dengue weeks in advance."

"Another key area is Rapid Diagnostics, with AI-powered systems for detecting malaria and tuberculosis already showing high accuracy in regions like Kenya, providing immediate support to diagnosticians, as underscored by conference presentations on TB and typhoid surveillance," he said.

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