Coral Reef Innovation Africa, in partnership with Newmont Africa and the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, has commissioned a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Smart Lab at Toase in the Ashanti Region.

This milestone marks the third AI Lab established under the partnership, following similar installations in Wioso and Kona. The initiative forms part of a shared mission to expand inclusive, future-ready digital learning infrastructure across Ghana — transforming how students experience learning through the power of AI.

The Toase AI Lab will serve as a technology and innovation hub for students from Toase and nearby communities. Learners will have the opportunity to:
✅ Explore real-world problem-solving using AI
✅ Learn coding and robotics
✅ Be guided by trained, future-ready teachers

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Audrey-Bertha Nartey, Country Lead of Coral Reef Innovation Africa, emphasized the pivotal role of traditional leadership in driving technological advancement.

“When our traditional leaders say yes to innovation, they give the entire community permission to imagine a new future,” she stated.

The event was graced by distinguished traditional leaders, including Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama, Esumejahene and Vice-Chair of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, and Nana Yim Awere Ababio, Toasehene. Their presence underscored the growing collaboration between Ghana’s cultural leadership and technology stakeholders.

Their support, Ms. Nartey noted, sends a powerful message — that technology is not here to replace tradition, but to work alongside it to secure opportunities for the next generation.

“In a society where custom holds great authority, the backing of traditional rulers is not symbolic but strategic,” she added. “It opens doors, shifts mindsets, and affirms that the future of education in Ghana is not just digital; it’s inclusive, rooted, and ready.”

The establishment of the Toase AI Smart Lab reinforces the commitment of Coral Reef Innovation Africa and its partners to democratize access to technology, particularly for students in semi-urban and rural communities.

As Ghana accelerates its digital transformation agenda, such initiatives highlight the growing recognition that innovation and culture can thrive side by side — building classrooms where heritage meets high-tech learning