A Ghanaian PhD student, Mr. Jeffery Acheampong Adu, has called for stronger legal and policy protections for workers supporting artificial intelligence systems. His study, presented at the 2026 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference, highlighted significant gaps in current frameworks.
Mr. Adu's research, titled “Data Workers in the AI Supply Chain: An Exploratory Study of the Legal and Policy Protections Governing Digital Labour,” examined how AI data workers are recognized. He found that existing global, African regional, and Ugandan legal frameworks offer only indirect protection. This situation creates uncertainty for many digital labourers, including freelancers and outsourced workers.
This advocacy comes as Ghana actively pursues digital transformation and positions itself as a technology hub in West Africa. The nation's economic growth increasingly relies on digital services and the burgeoning tech sector. Ensuring fair labour practices for AI data workers is crucial for sustainable development and attracting foreign investment in this critical area. The Bank of Ghana recently identified a GHS 4.8 billion annual SME financing gap, pushing for digital data-driven lending, which further emphasizes the reliance on data and the workers who process it.
Mr. Adu argues that AI governance must extend beyond protecting data and innovation to also protect the people behind AI. He calls for clearer recognition of AI data work as legitimate labour. This includes ensuring fair pay, safe working conditions, mental-health support, and worker privacy. He also advocates for collective voice and access to legal remedies for these workers.
The implications for Ghana are significant as the country expands its digital economy. Policymakers must consider these findings to develop comprehensive legislation that explicitly addresses the rights of AI data workers. Failure to do so could hinder the growth of a fair and equitable digital labour market. This could also impact Ghana's competitiveness in the global AI landscape and its ability to retain skilled digital talent.
The study highlights that the challenge is not merely a lack of legal protections. Instead, it points to the fragmented and uneven application of existing laws to new forms of digital labour. This fragmentation affects various workers, including those involved in data annotation, content moderation, and data cleaning. These tasks are essential for making AI systems functional and reliable. Addressing these issues will require a coordinated effort from government, industry, and labour organizations. This will ensure that Ghana's digital workforce is adequately protected and empowered.
Ghana's commitment to digital inclusion and economic development must align with robust labour protections for its digital workforce. This includes workers in the AI supply chain. The nation's future economic prosperity depends on fostering an environment where innovation thrives alongside social equity. This research provides a timely reminder of the human element in the age of artificial intelligence.