MTN Roundtable Focuses on AI for Job Creation
The recent MTN CTIO Roundtable 2026 in Accra championed artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for job creation in Ghana. The forum, attended by top executives, tech innovators, and government officials, shifted the AI discussion from potential job losses to opportunities for building new industries and upskilling the workforce. Experts highlighted practical AI applications for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and called for greater collaboration to develop Ghana's AI talent pipeline.
The 2026 MTN Business CTIO Roundtable Africa recently convened in Accra. The event attracted many top business leaders and technology experts. It focused on how artificial intelligence can create jobs in Ghana. The discussion shifted from AI replacing workers to AI empowering them.
Angela Mensah-Poku, MTN’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, opened the forum. She stated that Africa must be an active participant in the AI revolution. "Our role is to move from consumption to creation," she said. AI should help Ghanaian entrepreneurs, not replace them. The event was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Bernard Acquah, Chief Information Officer of MTN Ghana, gave the main presentation. He showed how businesses can use AI. Machine learning can make operations smoother and cheaper. It can also predict market changes more accurately. AI tools help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) automate simple tasks. This allows employees to focus on more important work. Examples included AI in customer service chatbots and fraud detection in finance.
Acquah added that efficiency means smarter processes. These processes allow companies to grow and hire more people. These new hires will need digital skills. His talk covered AI's role in manufacturing and agriculture. Data-driven decisions in agribusiness are also becoming crucial.
A panel discussion followed the presentation. It was led by Kobby Spiky Nkrumah. Panelists included Foster Akugri from Apex Advisory. Afia Gyamera of 40 Analytics also participated. Estelle Jacqueline Asare from Stanbic Bank was on the panel. They discussed Ghana's current AI situation. Talent is growing in Accra and Kumasi. Cloud computing access is also increasing. However, there are still challenges. These include policy gaps and data quality issues.
The panelists urged stronger partnerships. They want telcos like MTN to work with universities and the government. This collaboration is essential for training AI talent. Developing a skilled AI workforce is vital for Ghana's economic future. The roundtable emphasized that AI can be a tool for progress.
Source: StatsGH — Ghana's data-driven news platform