Mr. Charles Asamoah Assah, Chief Technology and Service Delivery Officer at MTN Ghana, has stressed that the missing link between Ghana’s education system and the rapidly expanding fintech industry is the lack of structured digital skills training.
Speaking to The High Street Journal (THSJ) at an MTN programme in Accra, Mr. Assah argued that coding, programming, cybersecurity, and digital marketing must become core components of the country’s education curriculum if Ghana is to remain competitive under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He noted that with AfCFTA opening up continental markets, Ghana’s competitiveness will depend on a digitally skilled workforce capable of powering small and medium enterprises, fintech firms, and even the creative industries.
Mr. Assah pointed out that while Ghana’s fintech sector has grown significantly, driven by mobile money services, digital lending, and e-commerce but there is still a major skills gap between classroom learning and the industry’s practical needs.
He warned that youth unemployment cannot be solved without equipping students with the digital competencies that employers demand.
“Fintech thrives on innovation, and that innovation must be taught from the secondary school level through to tertiary and vocational institutions,” he stressed.
The MTN executive highlighted the untapped potential of Ghana’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, which he believes can play a pivotal role in bridging this gap.
He recommended the creation of digital innovation hubs within vocational and technical schools to give students hands-on experience in fintech-related technologies.
According to him, Ghana should be producing graduates who are multi-skilled and digitally literate, whether they are in welding, fashion design, or creative arts.
“Imagine a welding student who can also code, or a fashion design student who understands digital marketing and e-commerce tools. That’s the kind of workforce we need, ready for the African market,” he explained.
Mr. Assah further underscored the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector in driving digital education.
He said telecom operators such as MTN, AirtelTigo, and Telecel have the capacity to support schools with equipment, internet access, internships, and mentorship opportunities that will prepare students for careers in fintech and ICT.
Beyond fintech firms, he emphasized that Ghana’s SMEs and creative industries also stand to benefit from digitally skilled talent.
Furthermore, digital payment solutions, online marketplaces, and content monetization tools all rely on workers who understand both business and technology.
He explained that whether it is a young entrepreneur selling products online or a musician streaming content globally, the backbone of their success will be digital skills.
Meanwhile, he noted that, Ghana risks falling behind regional peers if it does not accelerate reforms in education to integrate these skills.
Countries such as Rwanda and Kenya have already rolled out coding and digital literacy programmes at the basic school level, giving them a head start in preparing their youth for the digital economy.
Mr. Assah’s call therefore adds urgency to Ghana’s education reform agenda, especially as the country seeks to leverage AfCFTA to boost exports, create jobs, and expand its fintech leadership beyond West Africa.
“Education must be reimagined, we cannot keep training students for yesterday’s jobs while the future demands new skills. Fintech is not just about apps and transactions but it is about transforming the way we live, work, and compete,” he added.
