In an effort to better prepare its graduates for a world driven by technology that is changing quickly, the University of Ghana (UG) plans to make Artificial Intelligence (AI) training mandatory for all students starting in the upcoming academic year.
During the 2026 Achievers in Technology (AIT) Ghana Fellowship launch on Friday, September 4, 2026, Professor Isaac Wiafe of the Interaction Labs at UG’s Department of Information Technology revealed this.
The decision, according to Prof. Wiafe, is a reflection of the growing significance of AI and the necessity to make sure that students in a variety of academic fields gain the skills required to adjust to new technologies.
“We realize that AI is the future, thus starting next academic year, it will be mandatory for all University of Ghana students.”
With this change, students enrolled in computer science, information technology, or other technology-related programs will no longer be the only ones who can learn about AI. As part of their university education, students from all disciplines are required to be exposed to AI and digital skills.
The program expands upon UG’s previous choice to make Digital Literacy and Applied AI University of Ghana Required Courses (UGRCs). Vice-Chancellor Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo declared in July that a mandatory Level 100 course would incorporate four certifications from the government’s One Million Coders Program: Prompt Engineering Essentials, AI Essentials, AI Professional, and Digital Literacy.
The university then declared that the new Digital Literacy and Applied AI UGRCs it was proposing were being approved and that the Academic Board will likely be presented with the modifications ahead of the next academic year.
Additionally, Professor Wiafe emphasized that rather than trying to prepare graduates specifically for particular companies, institutions should concentrate on providing students with solid basic knowledge.
He maintained that it is the duty of the institution to equip students with the foundational information necessary for them to adjust to new job environments.
The development also occurs as academic institutions around the world struggle with how artificial intelligence is altering conventional methods of instruction, evaluation, and exams.
Instead of focusing only on stopping students from adopting AI technologies, Prof. Wiafe thinks professors need to reconsider how they instruct and evaluate their students.
KNUST’s New Doctoral Program Will Promote Herbal Medicine Education
Although UG is increasing its AI curriculum, administrators have advised students not to become unduly reliant on the technology.
To help lecturers, staff, and students use AI responsibly and ethically, the institution has developed an AI policy. Academic integrity, erroneous AI-generated data, privacy, and insufficient AI training are among the issues covered by the policy.
Mrs. Lydia Anowa Nyako-Danquah, Director of Academic Affairs at UG, has advised students to use AI as a tool for learning rather than as a substitute for critical thinking. Students have been urged to preserve their writing and critical-thinking abilities, validate information produced by AI, and reveal AI aid when necessary. Additionally, they have been cautioned not to input passwords, private information, or unpublished research into public AI systems.
The One Million Coders Program in Ghana, which aims to give residents the digital and technological skills necessary for employment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, is closely related to the mandatory AI training.
With AI increasingly influencing sectors such as finance, healthcare, education, engineering, agriculture, media and business, UG’s decision could significantly reshape how Ghanaian university students are prepared for the future of work.