By Francis

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By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE

The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has urged the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) to open more opportunities for internships and on-the-job training in order to guarantee career-readiness for young people.

He said GEA’s role in creating avenues for practical training will not only generate employment but also build a sustainable pipeline of talent to support the economy long term.

Addressing major stakeholders at GEA’s 65th Annual General Meeting, Dr. Pelpuo stressed that beyond government’s efforts to create an enabling business environment, equal emphasis must be placed on employment creation.

Speaking on the theme ‘Leveraging Technology for Enterprise Development: The Way Forward’, the minister noted that investment in human capital is paramount in the digital era, when dignified and sustainable jobs are increasingly tied to technology adoption.

“Government’s strategy of supporting the private sector in job creation is aimed at enabling educational institutions to partner with industry in tailoring curricula for the market’s needs,” he said.

This, he explained, will provide opportunities for practical training and apprenticeships aligned with the current job market, which places strong emphasis on technology-driven enterprise growth.

Highlighting government’s flagship One Million Coders Programme, Dr. Pelpuo said the initiative demonstrates targetted investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve service delivery, enhance transparency in doing business and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He emphasised that collaboration between GEA and government is vital, as private sector insights inform policy formulation and reform.

Delivering his keynote address, Chief Executive Officer-MTN Ghana Stephen Blewett underscored the centrality of technology and AI to business competitiveness.

He said: “Enterprises that embrace, adopt and innovate with technology in the 21st century will not only survive, but will lead.”

Mr. Blewett noted that telecoms infrastructure underpins digital transformation across all industries – from finance to agriculture, manufacturing, public services and trade. He added that MTN has placed particular focus on supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including women-led businesses, through initiatives such as Adwumapa – a dedicated bundle for women entrepreneurs – and AI-driven tools for young people.

According to the GSMA, policy reforms supporting digital transformation could add around US$3.4billion to Ghana’s economy by 2030.

The GEA president, Dr. Emmanuel Adu-Sakodee Afriyie, also emphasised Ghanaian enterprises’ need to embrace AI, stressing that future competitiveness will depend on their ability to adopt and deploy digital technologies for boosting productivity, cutting costs and accessing advanced markets.