When it comes to technology, young Ghanaians should see themselves not just as users of digital tools but as creators shaping the future, says Madam Dorothy Gordon, Founding Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.
Speaking in an interview with The High Street Journal on the sidelines of the just ended 2025 MOBEX Africa Tech and Innovation Awards, she encouraged the youth to take charge of Ghana’s digital transformation by learning to innovate rather than merely consume technology.
The MOBEX Africa Innovation Awards 2025 celebrated outstanding achievements in digital innovation across sectors, with a focus on solutions that address African challenges through African ingenuity. The event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators committed to advancing Africa’s technology ecosystem.
Madam Gordon described as “very outdated” the belief that technology is only for people in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines. She explained that digital tools now drive every sector, and every professional must understand how to apply technology in their work.
“So this idea that there’s a group of people concerned with technology, maybe computer science, information science, engineering, is very outdated because we see that digital technology is driving every sector, even the media,” she said. “As you are interviewing me, you know how much you need to understand about digital technology in order to do your work.”
She urged young people in all professions to take a proactive interest in learning about digital tools, emphasizing that those who master technology today will become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.
“Whatever profession you want to get into, start learning about digital technology and understand that the people driving innovation globally are young people,” she noted. “It is not people who are 60 years old. It is an area where you can become a global expert even when you are under 30.”
Madam Gordon encouraged the youth to shift their mindset from being passive users of digital products to becoming active creators of technology that solves real-world problems. “Focus and learn with the idea of innovating, not just being a user of technology but somebody who creates technology,” she advised.
Her comments come at a time when Ghana’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, creating new opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence, fintech, software development, and digital media. She said building a culture of innovation among young people is essential to ensure that Ghana and Africa at large can compete globally.
As a pioneer in technology and development, Madam Gordon continues to advocate for inclusive digital education and youth empowerment. Her message at the MOBEX Africa Awards served as a reminder that Africa’s greatest potential lies in its young innovators who are ready not just to use technology, but to shape it for the continent’s progress.
