In a digital age increasingly shaped by algorithms and automation, Isaac Kofi Maafo stands out by asking a different question: how can technology reflect who we are as Africans? As the CEO of DigiTransact and Executive Director of BulkSMS Ghana, he has become one of the continent’s leading voices on ethical, African-centred artificial intelligence. From developing over a hundred GPT-based tools tailored to local contexts to promoting what he calls “Ubuntu AI” – technology grounded in community, language, and inclusion – Isaac is helping to redefine how innovation serves people, not the other way around. His work aligns closely with the theme of eLearning Africa 2026, “Africa’s Time, Africa’s Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity,” and challenges us to imagine a digital future written in our own words, on our own terms.
1) Personal life & Inspirations
You’ve been described as someone who builds technology with purpose. Can you tell us a bit about your early years and how those experiences shaped your curiosity?
I grew up in Kumasi, Ghana, in a family where education was deeply valued. My father was a mechanical engineer, my mother a nurse, and both nurtured my curiosity. As a child, I was forever dismantling toys and radios to see how they worked. My family thought I was destructive, but really, I just wanted to understand things. That inquisitiveness became the foundation of everything I do today.
Growing up in Ghana, did you feel pressure to pursue a traditional STEM career?
Not really – I was fortunate that my family gave us the freedom to explore. My parents encouraged curiosity rather than compliance. Ironically, that freedom is what led me into science and technology in the end.
You’ve spoken before about Ubuntu AI, which is rooted in values such as community and shared progress. How do these values reflect your own upbringing or personal philosophy?
It comes from how I was raised. In my community, everyone looked out for one another – if a child skipped school, any adult could ask why. That sense of collective responsibility shaped me. To me, technology should do the same: it must be inclusive, human-centred, and built around shared progress. Ubuntu AI reflects that belief.
2) Professional journey
From telecom entrepreneurship to artificial intelligence, Isaac’s career reflects a pattern of reinvention driven by purpose. Each iteration has deepened his belief that Africa’s digital future must be self-authored – built by Africans, for Africans.
You began your career as a teacher before becoming an ICT consultant, then moved into entrepreneurship with Bulk SMS Ghana and later Digitransact. How did that evolution shape your view of Africa’s digital future?
Funnily enough, I started out by teaching agricultural science. When computers were first introduced, I became fascinated and started teaching myself to use and repair them (we were among the few fortunate enough to have access to them). Eventually, I was asked to head the school’s computer science department. That experience led to work with the U.S. Peace Corps, training volunteers in ICT, and later to founding my first company, M-Visions, which merged with BulkSMS Ghana. Each step opened new doors, from communication technology to AI consultancy.
When AI tools like ChatGPT appeared, I saw the next big shift. I taught myself through online tutorials and later took formal courses with institutions like the University of Glasgow and Vanderbilt. My outlook has changed completely: Africa’s digital leap will come from mastering such tools, but only by doing so on our own terms. My concern is that most large language models don’t reflect African languages or ethics – and that’s what I’m working to change.
Was there a particular moment when you realised Africa needed to define technology, and AI especially, on its own terms?
Yes – when ChatGPT became publicly available. I realised how powerful large language models (LLM’s) were, but also how little they reflected African realities. That’s when I began creating African-centred GPTs, including the Ghana Law Guide, and Agric Advisor. These tools are built around local data and languages, so they actually serve people here. That, for me, was a turning point.
You’ve mentioned Ubuntu AI as a key concept. In simple terms, what does it mean?
Ubuntu AI means developing technology that respects human dignity, culture, and language. It’s about ensuring that innovation serves people – not the other way around. For Africa, it means creating solutions grounded in who we are, not just replicating Western systems.
3) Professional Journey and AI in Practice
You’ve created more than one hundred custom GPTs, including tools like the Ghana Law Guide and Agric Advisor. What inspired you to build these, and how do they reflect your Ubuntu AI philosophy?
My motivation was simple: relevance. I wanted AI that understands us – our languages, our systems, our realities. The Ghana Law Guide helps people interpret legal frameworks in a Ghanaian context, while Agric Advisor is designed for farmers. If a farmer spots a diseased plant, they can take a photo, upload it, and receive an instant diagnosis along with practical advice.
These tools may seem niche, but they embody Ubuntu AI – technology that serves people, not the other way around. Each one bridges global innovation with local insight, proving that AI can be both advanced and authentically African.
You mentioned AfricanGPT.org earlier – could you tell us a bit more about it?
Yes, AfricanGPT.org supports multiple African languages, from Twi to Swahili – it’s about giving our languages digital life. The project is around 80% complete, but we now need linguists to refine it, which is where collaboration and funding become critical. Too often, we end up building alone. It’s like city living – everyone working behind closed doors – when real progress needs the spirit of the village. That, for me, is the true essence of Ubuntu AI.
4) AI and Education
As conversations around digital sovereignty and local innovation gain momentum across Africa, Isaac’s focus remains on one question: how do we ensure that our learners, workers, and systems are not just users of global technology, but co-authors of it?
Many educational technologies used in Ghana are imported rather than locally designed. Why do you think that is?
It largely comes down to resources. Building large AI systems requires significant computing power and data. But there’s also an issue of confidence – we sometimes underestimate our ability to innovate. The truth is, Africans can build incredible tools. We just need to believe it and back ourselves.
You often warn against over-reliance on AI. What concerns you most?
That we’ll stop thinking for ourselves. AI should be a companion in learning, not a replacement for human judgement. I tell students to use it to think better, not less. The real danger is raising a generation that can prompt but not reason – or worse, one that never develops critical thinking at all. Ironically, those who think critically are the very people who gain the most from AI in my opinion.
How do you see AI changing education in Ghana in the next decade?
AI can make learning far more interactive and accessible. It’s now possible for learners to create personal AI tutors trained on their own materials – imagine revising a textbook that talks back, or a lesson that adjusts to your pace. I use these tools myself, and they make learning dynamic, even exciting. But we must guide their use carefully, ensuring AI complements human judgement rather than replaces it.
5) Leadership, Vision, and Africa’s Time
The theme of eLearning Africa 2026 is “Africa’s Time, Africa’s Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity.” What does this mean to you?
It’s a call for ownership. For too long, our digital tools and curricula have come from outside. It’s time to build systems that reflect our realities – our languages, our ethics, our priorities. True sovereignty in technology means having control over the tools that shape our future.
You’ve trained both young people and senior officials in digital skills, often through collaborations with GIZ and government agencies. What have you learned from working across those generations?
It’s remarkable – regardless of age or profession, many people still assume AI is something too complex for them. I often walk into a room expecting some level of familiarity, only to find just a handful have ever used an AI tool. So, I start from scratch. But by the end, you can see the excitement build; people want to explore more for themselves.
When I teach, I focus on showing practical applications. For example, I introduce tools within ChatGPT and demonstrate how bankers, teachers, lawyers, or researchers can use them in their own fields. One of my favourites – as I mentioned earlier – is Google’s NotebookLM: free, customisable, and powerful. You can train it on your own data, generate reports, or even have two AIs discuss your material to surface insights you might never have considered. Watching participants’ eyes light up when they realise this isn’t science fiction – that it’s already possible – is the best part.
If we get it right – if Africa builds technology grounded in its community, ethics, and language – what kind of future do you imagine?
A more authentic Africa. One where digital systems mirror our diversity, creativity, and resilience. We’ll be creators, not consumers – a continent defining its destiny through its own innovation.
6) Off the Record: Quick Fire
What is one common myth about AI that you wish people would stop believing?
That AI will replace humans. It should extend our potential, not erase it. Sure, some jobs will go, but many more will be created – roles we can’t yet imagine.
What is an offline ritual that keeps you grounded?
Friday evenings with music, good food, and a beer. It’s how I switch off from the digital noise.
The biggest lesson entrepreneurship has taught you?
Never give up. Every obstacle is an iteration – you learn, adjust, and keep moving.
If you could describe Africa’s future in one word?
Authentic.
Interview conducted by Warren Janisch.
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