Policy analyst and founding president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has cautioned that Ghana risks lagging in the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution due to fragmented, politically driven skills programmes that lack a clear employement planning.
Speaking, Mr Cudjoe said the country’s current approach to digital and technical training appears scattered, with multiple initiatives rolled out without a coherent plan to prepare young people for the future labour market.
“We are in an AI revolution, and we are doing what? One Million Coders,” he said. “I don’t even know what that means. These programmes are crowded, they are all over the place.”
His remarks follow a recent security services recruitment exercise that drew over 405,000 applicants for just 5,000 positions, reigniting debate about youth unemployment and job creation in Ghana.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, revealed the figures while speaking to journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, 11 March. According to the minister, Ghana’s security services collectively employ fewer than 100,000 personnel, with a combined wage bill approaching GH¢13 billion — highlighting the fiscal limits of relying on public sector recruitment to absorb large numbers of job seekers.
While recognising the importance of digital skills development, Mr Cudjoe questioned the design and implementation of some government initiatives. He argued that many of the skills taught under programmes such as coding can easily be learned online and should not be treated as standalone flagship policies unless they are closely linked to industry demand and employment opportunities.
Instead, he called for greater investment in technical and vocational education and stronger support for graduates to enter competitive markets.
“If you can disproportionately invest in technical and vocational education and empower young people to create, innovate, and sell their wares, that will make them truly competitive,” he said.
Mr Cudjoe also highlighted the role of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), noting that while the institution produces useful long-term development plans, its impact is often weakened by partisan appointments.
According to him, without independent, well-resourced planning institutions, Ghana risks continually reacting to economic pressures instead of planning ahead.
“We need to move faster,” he warned, emphasizing that the pace of global technological change demands more coordinated and forward-looking policies. “Things are moving faster than ever.”