Unemployment in Ghana remains a big challenge. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana’s average unemployment in 2023 was estimated at 14.7%. The inability of the economy to be aggressively productive means unemployment stands as a critical problem for the youth, especially.
This situation calls for innovative ways to create sustainable jobs for a growing base of unemployed. One solution can come from the exploitation and exploration of AI which can generate new jobs, foster economic growth, and position Ghana as a leader in Africa’s digital economy. Ghana’s young and fast-growing tech-savvy population provides a unique opportunity for the creation of AI jobs that will lead to the country’s social and economic transformation.
This calls for a clear-cut strategy and human capital implementation plan which should be anchored on a baseline and the development of a dynamic curriculum to be translated into job relevant for formal (in schools) and informal (in apprenticeships etc.) groups of young people.
The formulation of AI human capital development strategy should be informed by the contextualisation of how AI can contribute to the displacement of certain jobs and the creation of new jobs. Therefore, there is the need to ensure the plan is not simplistic but reflects the situation today and a prediction of AI’s state of play in coming years.
Beyond the plan, it is imperative to note that AI jobs cannot be a stand-alone; they can only happen if Ghana drives innovation across the board, enhances productivity, and invests in opening the country to new economic opportunities.
There are two broad job opportunities in AI, the direct AI jobs and indirect AI jobs. Today in Ghana, there are only few direct AI jobs and rather more indirect AI jobs; job opportunities facilitated using AI.
Some indirect AI jobs could come from AI-Driven opportunities such as using AI to transform sectors like agriculture, healthcare, fintech, and education, creating the demand for AI specialists, data analysts, and automation engineers working in these sectors.
Also, AI-powered solutions can help Ghanaian entrepreneurs and startups launch businesses in e-commerce, smart farming, and digital finance, leading to job creation.
In the meantime, AI is creating multiple new job roles including roles for Data Analyst/Scientist who interpret large datasets to drive insights in all sectors; AI/Machine Learning Engineers tasked with developing and optimizing AI models and algorithms for practical use cases, AI Solutions Architect who design and integrate AI systems to enhance operational efficiency across all sectors and professional AI Consultants who advise businesses on integrating, optimizing, and ethically implementing artificial intelligence solutions to improve efficiency, decision-making, and innovation.
For example, an AI-driven agricultural consultant can advise farmers on how they can best utilize AI for precision farming, optimizing crop yields, and improving resource management in agriculture.
Double edge Sword
A discussion of AI direct and indirect jobs creation cannot be concluded without understanding the role of AI in destroying some jobs and reshaping the job market.
For example, AI automates tasks that were traditionally performed by humans, particularly those that are repetitive or rule-based. Some argue that it is more accurate to say that AI is transforming or displacing certain roles rather than “destroying” them.
Some jobs notably impacted by AI are Customer Service Roles, where AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants increasingly handle routine inquiries, reducing the need for many call centre agents. Therefore, the goal of having Business Processing Outsourcing (BPOs) strategy for job creation is no longer attractive.
Also, Data Entry and Administrative Positions are impacted since automated systems powered by AI can process and manage data faster and more accurately, leading to fewer roles focused solely on data entry or routine administrative tasks.
The rise of Robotics and AI-driven automation in manufacturing processes is fast replacing manual labor in repetitive and physically demanding tasks, and smart manufacturing means fewer and fewer jobs at these factories.
Further, financial and insurance sectors previously rely on a huge number of workers to help with basic analytical and financial processing tasks, which are now increasingly handled by AI algorithms, which can process large volumes of data more efficiently than humans.
Also, the rapid advancements in autonomous vehicles and drones are beginning to impact jobs in driving, delivery, and logistics as machines take over tasks that once required human operators.
For example, in Ghana, the drone delivery of medical supplies means the army of persons providing these services is no longer necessary.
Although we acknowledge the fact that AI holds great potential to “destroy” or significantly negatively impact some jobs, it is imperative to note that the evolution of AI also creates opportunities for new types of jobs, which often require advanced technical skills or roles that oversee, supervise, operate and manage AI systems.
This transformation calls for reskilling and upskilling efforts for existing workers to ensure they can transition to these emerging opportunities. At the same time, there is the need to reimagine how we educate and train new persons entering the job market so that they are the best fit for emerging job opportunities.
Therefore, the government working hand-in-hand with the private sector must implement an AI Upskilling & Workforce Development that encourages and facilitates workforce upskilling in AI.
Government of Ghana could invest in training the next crop of AI trainers and educators, setting the country as the AI training capital of Africa, providing both online and face-to-face academic and non-academic courses, including professional, diploma, bachelor, Master, PhD and post-doctoral courses Given Ghana’s current credentials as a centre of excellence in the provision of high-quality education and training, achieving this goal is possible.
In conclusion, while Ghana benefits immensely from AI job opportunities, the realization of this potential hinges on developing and implementing well-thought-out policies, substantial investments in human capital, and creating an enabling environment supported by robust infrastructure.
Dr. Kwami Ahiabenu, the writer, is a Technology Innovations Consultant. You can reach him at [email protected]
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