King Mswati III of Eswatini Visits KEEP and Tours the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL)

As part of his official visit to Ghana, His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) paid a visit to the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP), where he toured the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL).

The King was welcomed by Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Provost of the College of Engineering, along with Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of RAIL, and deans and faculty members from the College.

During a brief address, Prof. Kponyo introduced His Majesty to RAIL’s vision and core mandate, which is leveraging AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where research on AI in agriculture, health, energy and assistive technologies is used to solve real-world problems with an ethical, inclusive, and African-centred approach.

As part of the tour, PhD candidates showcased their research, offering a glimpse into the lab’s diverse portfolio of AI projects. Albert Dede presented his work on an AI model for early breast cancer detection. The system leverages machine learning to improve diagnostic accuracy, particularly in under-resourced medical environments. King Mswati III commended Dede’s effort, noting that “he’s doing a good job” and highlighting the importance of such innovations for African healthcare systems.

Amina Salifu spoke on her project involving accent classification using AI. Her model is designed to help AI systems better understand and respond to various Ghanaian and African accents. During the session, King Mswati III asked, “How does it relate to people affected by COVID?”. Amina explained that while she hadn’t studied that directly, her work broadly accounts for speech impairments. The King praised her work and its potential for inclusivity in voice-based technologies.

Matthew Cobbinah introduced a project aimed at bridging diagnostic gaps for patients unable to undergo MRI scans. His AI model translates between CT and MRI imaging, providing physicians with more comprehensive diagnostic tools. The King appreciated the work, recognising its practical value and forward-thinking approach.

King Mswati III’s visit recognises the lab’s efforts and the growing role of African institutions in shaping the future of responsible AI.