Accra, July 19, GNA – The Design and Technology Institute (DTI) has urged young Ghanaians to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), technical skills and entrepreneurship to remain competitive in an evolving labour market.
The appeal was made at the 2026 Jobs and Opportunities Fair, organised in partnership with DTI’s lead industry partner, Accents & Art, to equip young people with skills for an AI-enabled future and strengthen links between education and industry.
Addressing participants, Ms Constance Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, said Africa’s greatest challenge was not jobs being replaced by machines but the failure to equip young people with the skills needed to seize opportunities created by technological advancement.
She said the Fair provided a platform to connect young people with employment, entrepreneurship and career opportunities through collaboration among employers, educators, innovators, investors and development partners, building on the 2025 edition, which attracted more than 50 companies and facilitated employment interviews, mentorship engagements and business creation opportunities.
Citing projections by the World Economic Forum, Ms Swaniker said AI and automation could displace about 85 million jobs globally by 2030 but were also expected to create 97 million new roles, underscoring the need for continuous learning, upskilling and reskilling.
She expressed concern over youth unemployment, citing Ghana Statistical Service figures showing that unemployment among persons aged 15 to 24 stood at 32.5 per cent, while more than 1.3 million young people were not in employment, education or training.
Across Africa, Ms Swaniker said between 10 million and 12 million young people entered the labour market each year to compete for about three million formal jobs.
“This is the gap DTI was built to close. We do not train young people for the economy we wish existed. We train them for the economy that exists today and for the one that is emerging,” she said.
Ms Swaniker said DTI’s industry-driven training programmes had generated more than 41,000 employment and entrepreneurship opportunities since the institute was established in 2016, with more than half of the beneficiaries being young women.
She also called for stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry to ensure training remained aligned with labour market demands.
Representing the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Mr Anthony Kwame Seyram Zu, Deputy Director-General, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to skills development, innovation and AI-driven transformation within Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector.
He commended DTI’s industry-led approach, saying its internationally accredited programmes and globally recognised certifications were preparing young people for competitive careers in Ghana and abroad.
Mr Zu stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in building a resilient and globally competitive TVET ecosystem and assured DTI of the Commission’s continued support.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr David King Boison, Chief Executive Officer of the Knowledge Web Centre and Lead Consultant for the AI Africa Project, urged young people to regard AI as a tool for innovation and productivity rather than a threat.
“Artificial intelligence will not take your job. But a person who knows how to use it might,” he said.
Dr Boison said future competitiveness would depend on combining technical expertise with AI literacy, adding that occupations such as welding, fabrication, manufacturing and design would become even more valuable when enhanced by digital technologies.
“The welder who understands AI will out-earn the welder who does not. The fabricator who can use technology to simulate designs, improve precision and increase efficiency will have a competitive advantage,” he said.
The Fair also featured the Accra Floods Hackathon, where participants developed technology-driven solutions to improve flood preparedness, disaster response and urban resilience.
Five finalists were selected from 88 applicants and each received US$600 in seed funding to further develop their projects.
They were Nana Ama Nhyira Agyapong with SafeCity GH: AI-Powered Crowdsourced Risk Mapping; Carolyn Ngmen-Nomo Kuubetersuur with Smart Flood Drain Filter; Ativor Godsway Kwabla with FloodGuard; Ruth Asiedua Frimpong with Floodbuddy; and Berko Enoch Bill with AcquaAlert Accra.
The event also featured the DTI Entrepreneurship Challenge Awards, with five businesses receiving US$10,000 each in seed funding.
They were El-Roi Bakery, led by Cecilia Teni Akuka of Accra; Sue-Ssors Imagez (Waste to Wow), founded by Susana Abban Gatogo of Accra; Scarlet, led by Nana Ama Dankwaa Nyantakyi of Accra; Mafon’s Loyalty Enterprise, founded by Afondek Millicent of Tamale; and Kporfor Farms, owned by Johnson Kporfor of Ho.
Presenting the awards, Ms Swaniker described the finalists as “Africa’s future changemakers” and encouraged them to focus on creating solutions that address societal challenges.
The beneficiaries said participation in DTI programmes, particularly the Precision Quality Internship initiative, had provided practical industry exposure and support that strengthened their businesses.
In his closing remarks, Mr Mohit Sharma, DTI Project Coordinator, urged young people to embrace lifelong learning and innovation.
“The future of work demands adaptability, creativity, problem-solving skills and continuous learning,” he said.
More than 50 organisations from the manufacturing, banking, telecommunications, agribusiness, technology, media, engineering and education sectors participated in the Fair.
Participants also attended workshops on AI, prompt engineering, entrepreneurship, personal branding, financial readiness and career development, and interacted with employers, recruiters and industry professionals.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
