Google introduces Twi voice search, expanding digital access for Ghanaian speakers

Google has announced that Twi, one of Ghana’s most widely spoken languages, is now available on Google Voice Search, Gboard talk-to-type, and Google Translate voice input.

This inclusion is part of Google’s expansion of African language support, which now covers 15 new languages across the continent, enhancing accessibility for over 300 million people.

Developed in collaboration with Google’s AI Research Center in Accra, this update enables Ghanaians to search, type, and translate directly in Twi using voice commands. This integration will allow millions of Twi speakers to interact naturally with technology in their native language.

In West Africa, other languages added include Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin. “This technology will make a difference to over 300 million more people across the continent, enabling them to interact with the web with just their voice. It’s one example of how Google in Africa is building technology for Africans and the world,” said Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa.

The voice support extension is part of Google’s broader mission to make information universally accessible. “The next decade will be Africa’s digital decade,” remarked Matt Brittin, Google’s President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “Extending Voice Search, voice typing on Gboard, and voice input on Translate to 300 million people across Africa is a key landmark in that.”

Twi joins other African languages recently added to Voice Search and Gboard, including Chichewa, Somali, Shona, and Tswana. Google’s expansion reflects its continued commitment to developing technologies tailored for African communities and marks a major step towards increased digital inclusion for Ghana’s Twi-speaking population.