Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into public services in developing nations, the human competency foundations required for effective oversight remain under-researched. This study addresses this gap by examining AI governance competency pathways in Ghana, a context with nascent regulatory infrastructure. Utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on survey data from 101 key stakeholders, the research tests a dual-pathway model of governance judgment quality. The model contrasts a cognitive pathway—where AI literacy evolves into technical knowledge and applied capability—with a motivational pathway driven by ethical and critical awareness. Findings reveal that while the cognitive pathway is sequentially valid, ethical and critical awareness is the primary predictor of sound governance judgment. These results suggest that capacity-building frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa should prioritize ethical formation over purely technical skills to ensure the responsible deployment of AI systems.
Paper Number
1729
Recommended Citation
Adam, Ibrahim Osman; Abdul Mumin, Mubarik; and Mohammed, Haruna, "Ethical Awareness or Technical Skills: An Analysis of AI Governance Competency Pathways and Judgment Quality in Ghana" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 4.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/ai_sigculture/ai_sigculture/4
Ethical Awareness or Technical Skills: An Analysis of AI Governance Competency Pathways and Judgment Quality in Ghana
As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into public services in developing nations, the human competency foundations required for effective oversight remain under-researched. This study addresses this gap by examining AI governance competency pathways in Ghana, a context with nascent regulatory infrastructure. Utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on survey data from 101 key stakeholders, the research tests a dual-pathway model of governance judgment quality. The model contrasts a cognitive pathway—where AI literacy evolves into technical knowledge and applied capability—with a motivational pathway driven by ethical and critical awareness. Findings reveal that while the cognitive pathway is sequentially valid, ethical and critical awareness is the primary predictor of sound governance judgment. These results suggest that capacity-building frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa should prioritize ethical formation over purely technical skills to ensure the responsible deployment of AI systems.
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