Mr. Tetteh Akornor, Head of Commercial at XtraMFS Company Limited and a technology expert, has cautioned that Ghana’s workforce risks being left behind if the country does not intensify efforts to align its skills development strategies with the accelerating pace of global technological change.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Akornor observed that while Ghana has made notable progress in digitalization, especially in sectors like finance, education, and public services, many workers still lack the digital literacy and technical competencies required to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.
“Technology is changing faster than our workforce is adapting,” he said. “Artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools are redefining every industry, yet a large portion of our workforce is still operating with skills suited for yesterday’s economy.”
He noted that emerging technologies such as data analytics, AI-driven decision-making, and digital payments systems are creating new opportunities, but also widening the gap between skilled and unskilled workers.
“Those who understand how to use technology are moving ahead, while others are being left behind,” he added.
According to Mr. Akornor, the issue is not limited to the lack of technical expertise alone but also to the absence of adaptive learning systems that enable workers to continuously update their skills.
He said Ghana’s education and training institutions must evolve from theory-based instruction to practice-oriented, tech-driven learning models that respond directly to industry needs.
“Our schools and vocational centres need to integrate coding, data science, cybersecurity, and digital finance into their training modules,” he explained. “We can’t continue producing graduates who are not ready for the digital economy.”
Mr. Akornor cited the rapid transformation of the financial services and logistics sectors as examples of how technology is changing the world of work.
“Today, even a basic logistics company relies on digital tracking, automation, and data analytics,” he said. “In the financial sector, everything from payments to compliance is driven by technology. That means our workforce must evolve in tandem.”
He emphasized that both the private sector and government have crucial roles to play in building a future-ready workforce. “Government policy should encourage continuous digital upskilling through incentives, grants, and training partnerships,” he said. “At the same time, companies must invest in reskilling their employees rather than waiting for new graduates to fill the gap.”
Mr. Akornor pointed out that while Ghana’s youthful population presents a demographic advantage, the lack of structured pathways for digital skill acquisition threatens to undermine that potential.
“Youth unemployment remains high, yet industries are also complaining about a shortage of qualified digital professionals. That mismatch tells us something is fundamentally broken in our skills ecosystem,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to treat technology adoption not just as an infrastructure issue but as a human capacity challenge. “We’ve done well in deploying broadband and expanding mobile access,” he said, “but connectivity alone doesn’t equal capability. We need people who can create, innovate, and compete globally using technology.”
To bridge the skills gap, Mr. Akornor recommended a national framework that integrates public education, private innovation, and industry collaboration.
“It’s time we developed a clear national digital skills strategy that maps out what industries need today and anticipates what they’ll need tomorrow,” he said.
He also called for partnerships between tech firms and universities to expose students to real-world applications of technology early on. “Internships, innovation labs, and mentorship programmes must become mainstream not the exception,” he said.
Mr. Akornor added with a warning that countries that fail to prepare their workforce for the digital age risk losing competitiveness in the global economy. “The future of work is already here. The question is whether Ghana’s workforce is ready for it,” he said.
