The Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo, has urged graduates to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their capabilities while maintaining human judgment, accountability and responsibility.
He made the remark while delivering the keynote address during the GCTU Special Graduation Ceremony held on August 7, 2026, at the Sports Complex at the Tesano Campus.
Dr. Kavaarpou cautioned against allowing AI to become a substitute for independent thought. He noted that AI was rapidly transforming the world of work, with systems increasingly capable of writing software, analysing financial information, generating legal arguments, producing architectural designs and performing complex tasks with minimal human supervision.
According to him, the development of AI requires professionals to look beyond their individual disciplines and develop the ability to integrate technology, business and ethics to create systems that generate value and earn public trust.
Dr. Kavaarpuo also challenged the nation to move beyond consuming digital technologies and develop the capacity to build, own and govern them. He cautioned that without stronger local technical capabilities, data rights and ownership of digital infrastructure, Ghana could become an exporter of raw data while importing processed intelligence.
He further stressed the need for responsible innovation, noting that technological capability must be matched by accountability, fairness and respect for privacy and human dignity.
“Privacy is part of the architecture of human freedom,” he stated, cautioning that the ability to collect data or predict behaviour does not automatically justify doing so.
The DPC Executive Director urged the graduates to remain adaptable and committed to lifelong learning as technology continues to reshape employment and professional practice.
He concluded by urging the graduates to use technology to create rather than merely consume, exercise independent judgment rather than outsource it and ensure that the systems they build promote human prosperity without diminishing human dignity.
