Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has come under intense social media criticism following a failed live demonstration of “Aku,” Ghana’s newly introduced AI assistant, during the launch of the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
The incident occurred on April 24, 2026, at a high-profile event attended by senior government officials, including former President John Dramani Mahama. The launch was intended to highlight Ghana’s ambitions to leverage artificial intelligence to transform sectors such as governance, healthcare, and education.
During the demonstration, Sam George attempted to interact with “Aku,” an AI-powered assistant positioned as a symbol of Ghana’s digital future. However, the system failed to respond as expected, resulting in an awkward moment that quickly drew attention both at the event and online.
Clips of the malfunction circulated widely across social media platforms, triggering a wave of reactions from Ghanaians. Many users mocked the demonstration, questioning the technical readiness of the project and criticising what they described as poor execution at a major national event. Others turned the moment into memes, using humour to express scepticism about the country’s AI ambitions.
The backlash has reignited public debate about the implementation of large-scale digital initiatives in Ghana, particularly concerns over infrastructure, testing, and deployment standards.
The National AI Strategy forms part of broader government efforts to position Ghana as a leader in digital transformation within the region. However, the failed demonstration has underscored the challenges associated with introducing emerging technologies on a national scale, especially under public scrutiny.