How one Ghanaian developer is redesigning assistive AI for African users

It's not often that a chance conversation sparks a life-changing journey, but for Emmanuel Quartey, that's exactly what happened. In February 2024, he temporarily lost hearing in one ear, plunging him into a world he'd never known before, a world where everyday conversations became frustrating, and even simple interactions required more effort than he was used to. But it was his friend's thoughtful question that redirected his ambitions as a young engineer: "Imagine it was your eyes. What would you do?" This simple inquiry sparked a fire in Quartey, who at the time was experimenting with computer vision and artificial intelligence as a second-year Information Technology student at Pentecost University in Ghana.

Quartey's experimentations with computer vision had been underway for years, fueled by his passion for building automation systems, robotics projects, and agricultural technologies. Assistive technology had never crossed his mind, but the seed of curiosity had been sown. When his friend Angela Kona, who is visually impaired, cancelled a meeting to accompany a friend to the hospital, Quartey saw an opportunity to test one of his projects, a computer vision project that could recognise currency and extract printed text. Watching Kona use it convinced him that he was building something that could make a real difference. This moment marked a turning point for Quartey, as he realised that his work shouldn't remain just a project.

Two years after that fateful conversation, Quartey's experiment has evolved into Steward Vision Assistant, an AI-powered platform that helps blind and visually impaired users recognise currency, identify objects, read printed text, and better navigate their surroundings. Steward is emerging at a time when advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping assistive technology. The capabilities that once required years of specialised engineering can now be built on top of existing AI models, allowing smaller teams to focus on adapting the technology to local needs rather than developing every capability from scratch. This shift comes as access to assistive technology has become a growing priority across Africa, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that more than 200 million people in the region need at least one assistive product, a figure expected to double by 2050.

The potential of Steward Vision Assistant is vast, and Quartey's work is not in isolation. Advances in AI are empowering smaller teams to build assistive technology that is tailored to African realities. This is a crucial step towards making assistive technology more accessible and effective for millions of people who need it. As Quartey's story illustrates, even a chance conversation can spark a revolution in assistive AI. With Steward Vision Assistant, Quartey is not just building a platform, he's building a future where people with disabilities can live more independently and confidently.

As Steward Vision Assistant continues to evolve, it's clear that Quartey's work is just the beginning. With the WHO's estimates suggesting that the demand for assistive technology will double by 2050, the need for innovative solutions like Steward has never been more pressing. As Quartey continues to work towards making assistive technology more accessible and effective for African users, he's not just changing lives, he's changing the face of assistive technology.

I'm writing this article at a moment when the African creator economy is on the rise, and innovators like Emmanuel Quartey are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. As a writer, I'm excited to see how Steward Vision Assistant will evolve and impact the lives of millions of people across Africa.