AI turns pothole detection into ready-to-file complaints: a blueprint for African cities
A Bengaluru-based software engineer has shown how artificial intelligence can do more than chat. It can now spot potholes, identify the contractor responsible, and generate a complaint ready for submission. The system, built by Gaurav Sen, founder of InterviewReady, is drawing attention across the world, and it offers a clear lesson for African cities, including Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, where road conditions remain a daily challenge.
How the AI pothole detection system works
The setup is simple. A dashcam, a GPS unit, and an accelerometer record the road while a car moves. AI vision then identifies potholes, classifies them by size, and distinguishes them from speed breakers. But the real innovation comes after detection.
The system searches through roughly 2,900 government contracts to find the tender connected to the road. It identifies the contractor responsible and the relevant government officer. It then attaches the pothole's photograph and geographical coordinates, and prepares a structured complaint. In one demonstration, a single drive detected 12 potholes and produced 12 complaints ready to be filed.
Why this matters for Ghana and Africa
Ghana's cities face similar infrastructure challenges. The Ministry of Roads and Highways has acknowledged the need for better maintenance systems, and the government has committed to improving road networks as part of its economic growth agenda. Tools like this could strengthen accountability and transparency, two pillars of the current reform agenda.
For the diaspora, this is a story of how African talent can adapt global innovation to local needs. The technology is open to replication. A developer in Accra could build a similar system using Ghana's public procurement data, which is already available through the Public Procurement Authority.
What this means for civic tech and entrepreneurship
The project has sparked conversations about how far AI can go beyond chatbots and content generation. Young Africans, like their peers in India, are questioning existing systems and demanding results. This demonstration offers a practical example of what is possible when a camera sees the road, AI understands what it sees, and government data provides context.
Sen's background adds credibility. He is a former software engineer at Uber, a platform engineer at Directi, and an IT analyst at Morgan Stanley. He also completed an entrepreneurship accelerator at Cornell University. His work shows that individual developers can build tools that push for government accountability without waiting for official action.
Could this work in Accra or Kumasi?
The idea is transferable. The key ingredients are public data, a camera, and AI. Ghana's government has shown openness to digital transformation, and the private sector is growing in confidence. The question is whether local developers will take up the challenge.
For now, the Bengaluru project stands as a reminder that simple ideas, when combined with data and determination, can have big implications. For cities where potholes are part of daily travel, that is a message worth acting on.