Featured Speakers

Keynote

Alhaji Omar Seidu

Ag. Deputy Government Statistician

Ghana Statistical Services

Omar Seidu is a social statistician with over two decades of professional experience in the data value chain. With the responsibility of coordinating data for monitoring the SDGs in Ghana, Omar leads a drive around data innovations, a multi-stakeholder approach to data production, and strengthening administrative data systems in Ghana. As the Acting Deputy Government Statistician responsible for social and population statistics, he provides strategic leadership in the coordination of the National Statistical System and oversees the production of quality official statistics to support national development. Prior to this appointment, Omar was the Director of Social Statistics, where he provided leadership to revitalise the social and demography directorate as one of the leading technical directorates of GSS. Omar serves on several national and international platforms on data for development and is actively engaged in the Evidence-Informed Policy Making space. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to national and global development data systems, Omar on behalf of GSS, was jointly honoured at the 2025 GEO SDGs Award in Rome at the Global Forum for the innovative works towards integrating citizen data into official statistics. Omar is widely respected for his technical depth, institutional knowledge, and commitment to building a credible, modern, and resilient national statistical system, in line with the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) and international best practices.

Building AI Systems in Low-Data Environments

Prof. Delali Kwasi Dake

Associate Professor, Head of ICT Education

University of Education, Winneba (UEW)

Prof. Delali Kwasi Dake is an Associate Professor of Computing and Information Technology and Head of the Department of ICT Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana. His work sits at the intersection of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Innovation, with research spanning data mining, intelligent systems, reinforcement learning, AI ethics, and blockchain technologies. He leads technology-industry partnerships that translate data-driven research into practical innovation, collaborating with organizations such as Google and Binance to advance AI literacy and digital transformation initiatives. His recent work explores AI-driven employability models, ethical data governance, and intelligent decision systems for emerging economies. Prof. Dake is an active contributor to global AI policy and computing communities and has delivered keynote addresses across Africa and internationally on responsible AI, data systems, and technology for development.

Ethics, Privacy & Responsible Data Use

Maud Adjeley Ashong Elliot (Mrs.)

Lecturer, IT Studies

University of Professional Studies, Accra

Maud Adjeley Ashong Elliot is a lecturer in IT Studies at the University of Professional Studies, Accra and a leading advocate for inclusive digital transformation in Ghana. Her research focuses on the role of women in technology and the structural conditions necessary for equitable participation in the digital economy. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Information Systems at the University of Ghana Business School (awaiting viva), where her work examines the intersections of governance, data systems, social inclusion, and the responsible use of data in emerging AI ecosystems. Maud serves as President of the Internet Society Ghana Chapter, championing safe Internet practices, encryption awareness, and responsible digital citizenship. Through national STEM initiatives, she mentors and counsels young women from high school through tertiary education and has taught programming in Scratch and Python to broaden early participation in technology. She is Co-Chair of the Association for Information Systems Women's Network and currently serves as President of the AIS Special Interest Group on Social Inclusion. An IBM-trained educator in mobile and cloud development, ICANN78 and ICANN80 Fellow, and member of Women in Cybersecurity, Maud brings deep expertise in internet governance, gender equity, and ethical digital ecosystems — an essential voice for advancing data-driven, inclusive AI in Ghana and across Africa.