Accra: Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari, the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, emphasized the importance of setting priorities to fully harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during a recent conference. Speaking at the University of Ghana Business School, University of Mauritius, and Stellenbosch University's 2nd Emerging Countries International Conference on Business, Finance, and Economics, Dr. Opoku-Afari highlighted the need for countries to align their AI strategies with their specific developmental contexts. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Opoku-Afari discussed an innovative AI preparedness index that suggests advanced and emerging market economies should focus on AI innovation and integration, alongside developing regulatory frameworks to maximize benefits. For less prepared economies, he stressed the importance of foundational infrastructural development and the creation of a digitally skilled labor force. He also pointed out the necessity of social safety nets and retraining prog rams for workers affected by AI to ensure inclusive growth. Dr. Opoku-Afari underscored the potential of AI to accelerate economic development and improve lives in emerging countries. He highlighted projections that AI could contribute over $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with significant growth opportunities for emerging countries that adopt AI. He called for reforms, policy adaptations, and changes in university curricula to meet AI's evolving demands. The Deputy Governor acknowledged the organic and unstoppable nature of AI's transformative process, noting its role in revolutionizing productivity and driving global economic growth. He highlighted AI's impact across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, education, transportation, and energy, enhancing efficiency, personalization, and decision-making. At the Bank of Ghana, AI is utilized for forecasting and gathering real-time data, aiding in inflation analysis, and offering technical assistance to peers i n the subregion. Despite the benefits, Dr. Opoku-Afari recognized challenges such as infrastructure gaps, unequal access to digital tools and education, and ethical concerns like bias and privacy, which need addressing for AI to be effectively harnessed in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs). Dr. Opoku-Afari concluded by emphasizing the need for reliable electricity, internet connectivity, and ethical considerations in AI adoption to ensure equitable growth and productivity in EMDEs.