Northern Ghana AI Lab Announces a four-member Advisory Council to Shape the Future of AI in Northern Ghana

The Northern Ghana AI Lab, a flagship initiative of HOPin Academy, announces its inaugural Advisory Council, a distinguished group of highly respected technologists, researchers, and public-sector officials from across Africa. The Advisory Council will act as the Lab’s independent internal advisor, shaping the Lab’s strategic direction and identifying emerging opportunities that benefit communities across Northern Ghana.

The Advisory Council brings expertise from diverse fields: education, technology, economics, government, and social impact. Their insights will help shape the lab’s strategic priorities, partnerships, and projects that place people at the centre of AI transformation.

“We are honoured to have this inaugural team of advisors committed to ensuring that Northern Ghana is not excluded from the socio-economic benefits of AI,” says Kofi Yeboah, Co-founder of the Northern Ghana AI Lab. “Their strategic guidance is invaluable to the work ahead.”

Meet the Members of the Inaugural Advisory Board 

Winnie Dzidonu – She is the Senior Manager, Digital Platforms at MTN Ghana, the biggest and leading telecommunication company in Ghana, where she transforms and scales digital solutions and leads strategic initiatives. She has 16 years of experience driving growth and innovation in multinational companies. Her expertise includes the development of international market strategies, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging analytics for data-driven decision-making.

Alexander Tsado – He is the Chief Executive Officer of Udu Technologies, a leading provider of advanced computing infrastructure across the continent. Also, Alex is the founder of Alliance for Africa’s Intelligence, a global nonprofit dedicated to accelerating AI adoption across the continent. Prior to that, he led go-to-market for Nvidia’s fastest-growing business, cloud AI computing. Alex operates at the intersection of disruptive technology, community economics, and historical regenerative philosophies, as they apply to the future of the global African and the underrepresented. He works with key African governments, start-ups and international development agencies to operationalise their AI strategies and establish compute clusters within Africa.

Dr. Ibrahim Osman Adam – He is the Professor and Dean of the School of Business, University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He is also an Associate Professor of Information Systems and a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana). Before joining academia, he worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the NGO sector. His research interests are digital technologies in business and innovation, with a focus on e-commerce, e-government, social media and other digital transformations.

Dr. Sharif M Khalid – He is the Economic Advisor, Office of the Vice President, Ghana. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Sheffield and Queen’s University Belfast, where he was involved in teaching, research, and PhD supervision. With a nearly two-decade-long academic career, his research engagements span accounting and finance, corporate governance, international tax policy, extractive sector governance, corporate and commercial law, international trade, political accountability, and sustainable development.

“It is a privilege to be part of this inaugural Advisory Council,” said Dr. Ibrahim Osman Adam, speaking on behalf of his fellow advisors. “Our role is simple: to listen, challenge, and offer the kind of fresh thinking that will help the Northern Ghana AI Lab turn its vision into something real and lasting for the communities of the North.”

The creation of the Advisory Council plays an integral role in supporting the lab with insights on high-level strategy, partnerships and innovation, which is vital for the success of this initiative.