Dr Thompson Gyedu Kwarkye

Dr Thompson Kwarkye

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow

University of Galway

Profile

Thompson holds a PhD in Anthropology from Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, an MSc in Human Security from Aarhus University, Denmark, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Ghana. Thompson was a postdoc at the University College Dublin (UCD), where he designed online courses on AI Ethics and Auditing. The courses equip professionals with practical and critical tools for evaluating ethical implications and accountability in AI systems. He was also part of DIVERSIFAIR, a European interdisciplinary project identifying emerging technologies’ biases. Before commencing at UCD, Thompson led the research design of the large-scale ERC-funded project ConflictNet at the University of Oxford. Collaborating with a team of researchers, they explored how European technology regulations impact the Global South (a so-called Brussels Effect).

With a scholarly journey that bridges anthropology, political science, and technology policy, Thompson has established himself as a leader at the intersection of socio-legal studies, technology governance, regulation and ethics. This includes 16 academic publications, including monographs, peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and policy briefs. His recent publications explore timely and critical issues such as AI regulation in Africa, privacy rights, indigenous governance, and the “Brussels Effect” – European regulatory norms’ implications on African AI policy.

Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompson-kwarkye-501a2180/?originalSubdomain=ie

X: https://x.com/KwarkyeThompson

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-1317-5446

ROSETTA Project

Navigating the Frontiers of Governing Artificial Intelligence in Africa (AfroGAIN)

AfroGAIN investigates how political, socio-cultural and ethical processes shape AI governance and what this means for balancing innovation and ethics in Ghana and South Africa. The need for this research is built on AI as a ‘double-edged sword’ that can help meet Africa’s development aspirations while possessing potential risks such as algorithmic biases and human rights concerns. Critics also point to AI’s possible negative geopolitical impacts on the continent, particularly as major powers, including the US, EU, and China, compete to establish partnerships within Africa’s AI ecosystems, each promoting different standards.

While many African countries have been governing AI as a priority, there is limited research on the motivations and politics behind actively pursuing AI governance, including values, themes, principles, and ethics embedded in the frameworks. With qualitative and quantitative evidence from South Africa and Ghana, this research will unpack how AI is building governance processes, how it is envisioned, and the role of local and transnational actors in influencing AI approaches on the continent.

It aligns closely with Irish Aid priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by accessing political and sociocultural processes in AI to enhance employment opportunities, promote innovation and build resilient infrastructure. AfroGAIN will also chart a path to ethical AI by examining governance frameworks that maximise AI potential and risks in line with the European Commission’s Sustainable Strategy for AI. It will create new knowledge and address identified gaps in AI ethics, technology politics, global development, and cultural studies.

ROSETTA Supervisor and Host Institution

Supervisor: Dr Rónán Kennedy

Host: University of Galway