Three Ghanaian entrepreneurs just won a Webby Award for an AI tool that does something simple but important: it stops AI from making critical decisions without a human checking first.
The tool is called Human in the Loop (HITL). The Webby Award recognition is significant for Ghana—it shows local tech talent is solving real global problems.
What does Human in the Loop actually do?
Imagine your workplace uses AI to handle emails, process tickets, or manage customer requests automatically. It sounds efficient, but what if the AI makes a mistake on something sensitive? That’s where HITL steps in.
The tool adds a human checkpoint to AI workflows. Before any important action happens, a real person reviews it and either approves or blocks it. Kwaw Fletcher Frimpong, team lead at HITL, explains: “There needs to be a human element in it. That’s where the concept of Human in the Loop around AI governance came from.”
In plain terms: AI handles the routine work, but humans keep the power to say no.
Why does this matter right now?
Trust in AI is shaky. Concerns about automated systems making mistakes without human oversight have grown across industries. Reports suggest incidents involving social media platforms and other services have highlighted the risks when AI operates without human checkpoints.
Stories like that have made people nervous. HITL’s approach—keeping humans in the loop—addresses exactly this fear, providing a safeguard that many organizations are now seeking.
Who built this and how did it start?
The team includes Dominic Damoah (based in California), Kwaw Fletcher Frimpong, and Philemon Kwesi Hini (Accra, Ghana). Damoah grew up in Ghana in the late 2000s with limited computer access, but taught himself by reading programming books and diagrams.
HITL started as a side project after Damoah’s earlier startups failed to make money. He decided to explore AI on the side while working a regular job. That side hustle just won him international recognition.
“This side hustle is something that popped up last year,” Damoah said. “None of my startups had made money, so I told myself I’m not going to do another startup, I’m going to work for another company, and make some money and potentially explore something in AI.”
What happens next?
The team is now figuring out how much funding they need to scale. Frimpong said they’re conducting evaluations before they announce their next growth phase.
Beyond that, the team wants to ease fears about AI. Hini, based in Accra, said: “People should have an open mind that AI isn’t going to take our job. Let’s look at the positive aspects of it. I’m sure we’ll be able to build a better system where humans can work or co-exist with AI.”
What should you know?
This is a win for Ghana’s tech reputation. It shows that Ghanaian talent—even working from different continents—can build tools that solve real global problems and earn international recognition. The Webby Award represents a meaningful milestone for entrepreneurs from the continent.
If you work in a field that relies on AI (customer service, finance, HR, content moderation), tools like HITL matter to you—they’re the safeguard between automation and mistakes.
Watch for: Whether HITL launches a public version or API that smaller Ghanaian businesses can use. Right now, the focus seems to be on enterprise clients, but that could change as they scale.
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