As reported by Tech Labari, the University of Ghana, Google Research Africa, and the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) at University College London (UCL) have joined forces on an innovative AI project called “tɛkyerɛma pa” (meaning “Good Tongue” in Akan), which aims to improve communication for individuals with non-standard speech patterns in Ghana.
The project focuses on advancing speech recognition technology for five key Ghanaian languages—Akan, Ewe, Ikposo, Dagbani, and Dagaare—to foster inclusive communication for people with speech-related disabilities.
Event Highlight
On November 1, a tech talk held at Google Ghana’s office spotlighted progress on Project Euphonia, an ongoing initiative to improve Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology for non-standard speech. The event also marked the beginning of local data collection in Ghana as part of the tɛkyerɛma pa project.
The Bigger Picture
Globally, individuals with speech conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, ALS, stroke, and Down Syndrome face significant barriers, as existing speech recognition technologies often struggle to understand non-standard speech. Project tɛkyerɛma pa aims to address this gap in Ghana by developing localized ASR models that are more inclusive of diverse speech patterns.
How It Works
With a $40,000 grant from Google and technical expertise from UCL’s GDI Hub, University of Ghana researchers will work closely with Google Research scientists to train custom speech models. This collaboration is a strong example of “AI by Africa for Africa,” underscoring the global impact of locally led innovation.
Statements from Project Leaders
- Prof. Isaac Wiafe, Project Lead: “We are thrilled to lead this initiative to help more Ghanaians communicate effectively, regardless of their speech patterns.”
- Katrin Tomanek, Google Research: “Project tɛkyerɛma pa will create the first open-source dataset of non-standard Ghanaian speech, reflecting Google’s commitment to inclusive AI research in Africa.”
- Prof. Cathy Holloway, GDI Hub: “This collaboration not only benefits individuals in Ghana but provides valuable insights for global AI, laying the foundation for future language models in Africa.”
Why It Matters
This project builds on Google’s broader AI commitment in Africa by leveraging local expertise, cloud computing, and funding. As speech therapists in Ghana begin collecting a diverse range of speech samples, tɛkyerɛma pa has the potential to drive more inclusive technology not only in Ghana but also worldwide, making a positive impact on AI accessibility.
