The University of Ghana has partnered with Google Research Africa and the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) at University College London to launch “tɛkyerɛma pa,” an ambitious AI project aimed at transforming speech recognition technology for Ghanaians with non-standard speech.
The initiative seeks to enhance AI-driven speech recognition for five key Ghanaian languages: Akan, Ewe, Ikposo, Dagbani, and Dagaare, aiming to make digital communication more inclusive for those with speech patterns affected by conditions such as cerebral palsy, ALS, Down syndrome, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. Globally, such individuals have often struggled with mainstream speech recognition tools, which frequently fail to interpret non-standard speech accurately.
By training AI models to better understand unique speech patterns, “tɛkyerɛma pa” aims to bridge this accessibility gap, giving individuals with non-standard speech in Ghana the opportunity to communicate more effectively using AI-powered technology.
Prof. Isaac Wiafe, Project Lead and Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, emphasized the importance of inclusive innovation. “No one should be left behind, and we are excited to lead this important initiative,” he said at a recent press briefing held at the Google Ghana office. “By developing localized AI solutions, we can ensure that more Ghanaians have the opportunity to communicate effectively, regardless of their speech patterns.”
The project has received a $40,000 grant from Google and technical support from UCL’s GDI Hub, facilitated through the AT2030 program. In addition to advancing speech technology in Ghanaian languages, the project aims to create the first open-source dataset of non-standard speech in these languages, laying the groundwork for broader AI research.
Katrin Tomanek, Senior Research Scientist at Google Research, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting Google’s commitment to supporting AI advancements in Africa. “This project reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that technological advances benefit everyone, regardless of how they speak,” she noted.
Prof. Cathy Holloway, Academic Director at the GDI Hub, underscored the importance of extending AI-powered speech recognition to more languages, saying, “Expanding the reach of this technology means that people with non-standard speech can communicate more effectively with others and with devices in their daily lives.”
As work on “tɛkyerɛma pa” continues, the University of Ghana and its partners hope to make a lasting impact on inclusive technology, both within Ghana and beyond.
Source:TheDotNews