In an effort to help her mother, who had become blind, continue enjoying African books and novels, she came up with a brilliant idea. She developed a digital platform that provides all reading enthusiasts with access to a vast collection of African audiobooks.

Ama Dadson (photo) is a Ghanaian computer scientist and tech innovator. She is the founder and CEO of AkooBooks Audio, a digital streaming platform dedicated to African audiobooks.

Established in 2018, AkooBooks Audio uses machine learning to connect African authors and voice talents with new readers and listeners. The platform offers audiobooks in several African languages, making literature accessible to both literate and non-literate Africans, as well as the global African diaspora.

The idea for AkooBooks Audio was born from Ama Dadson's desire to entertain her mother, a children's book author who had become blind. While searching for audiobooks for her mother, she quickly realized that most of them were foreign and not suited to her mother's tastes.

"All the book titles I found for my mother had nothing to do with Africa. Yet, she wanted to immerse herself back in the atmosphere and imagination of our continent. So, I realized that there was a lack of essential content, adapted to our needs. This is how AkooBooks was born in 2018. Our continent is immense, we have so many talented authors and publishers. The field is vast and I took the plunge," explains Ama Dadson in 2023.

Ama Dadson graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1986. She was also certified as an IT business manager in 2014 by the IT Manager Institute, created by the IT management training company, MDE Enterprises.

Following her studies, she worked as a regional computer trainer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1991 to 1996. Between 2005 and 2022, she held various positions at the University of Ghana, including Deputy Director of IT Services and Head of IT Service Delivery.

In 2018, Ama Dadson received the African Entrepreneurship Award in the "High Potential" category from BMCE Bank of Africa. In 2021, her startup won the Startup of the Year award at the Women in Tech Africa Awards. In 2023, she won the AFD Digital Challenge Africa, organized by the French Development Agency.

Melchior Koba