Building AI Capacity: How Ghana's DigiTransact AI is Training the Next Generation

Why AI Matters for Africa's Growth

AI is set to add up to $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030. Africa could gain as much as $1.8 trillion of that, with projections showing Ghana and other nations having a chance to leapfrog into high-value sectors. Banking, retail, telecom, agriculture, and public services all stand to benefit.

The challenge is not access to technology, but building skilled talent. A McKinsey study ranks the shortage of AI professionals as the main barrier. Mastercard reports that while Africa has talent, the lack of opportunities pushes skilled workers abroad. Without local capacity, Africa risks becoming a consumer of imported AI instead of a creator.

Ghana needs both technology and talent development. That is the approach DigiTransact AI takes—delivering solutions while training the next generation.

DigiTransact AI's Approach

DigiTransact AI operates on two pillars: AI Solutions Delivered and Youth Trained.

Leadership and Vision

• Led by Isaac Kofi Maafo and Daniel Maafo, with 20+ years in IT, telecom, and educational technology.
• Certified by Stanford, Lund University, and UPenn in AI strategy, governance, and education.
• Nominated for Ghana AI Awards 2025 in the "Leaders in AI" category at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, March 2025.

Core Offerings

• Machine Learning for predictive analytics in finance, healthcare, and agriculture.
• Natural Language Processing with multilingual support in African languages.
• Computer Vision and Analytics for quality control, security, and business intelligence.

Locally Relevant Tools

• Over 100 custom GPTs and AI agents, including Ghana Law Guide, Agric Advisor, and Academia Assistant.
• Built with local data to avoid bias and strengthen digital sovereignty.

Training and Capacity Building

Youth Development

• Facilitator under Africonsult in partnership with GIZ under "Freelance/Gig Economy Project."
• Trained 60+ young Ghanaians in freelancing and gig economy skills.
• Outcome: Immediate earning potential in the digital economy.

Leadership Development

• Partnership with Ghana's Public Enterprises Secretariat.
• Delivered AI and Future of Work training to senior government officials.
• Outcome: Improved decision-making and strategic AI adoption in public institutions.

| Partnership | Audience | Focus | Impact | |-------------|----------|-------|--------| | GIZ | Youth | Freelance digital skills | Pathway to income | | Public Enterprises Agency | Senior officials | AI strategy | Transformative for organizations |

The National AI Education Ecosystem

Ghana's AI education is expanding at multiple levels:

• University Programs – BSc in AI at Academic City University College, covering from C++ to Deep Learning.
• Intensive Fellowships – Blossom Academy AI Fellowship for unemployed graduates, with internships included.
• Professional Certificates – OpenLabs AI Essentials (72 hours), DataMites covering Python to deployment.
• Executive Education – Glomacs sector-specific AI courses in Accra.

This layered approach shows Ghana's AI talent market is maturing beyond hype into real workforce development.

Challenges That Remain

1. Infrastructure – Limited regional cloud and computing resources outside South Africa.
2. Data – Scarce, fragmented, and often foreign, creating bias risks.
3. Regulation – Evolving policies on privacy and data transfer.
4. Investment – High cost of foundational data and infrastructure.

Recommendations

• Public-Private-Academic Partnerships – Incentivize joint curriculum and applied research.
• AI Literacy from Basic Education – Embed computational thinking early.
• Sovereign Data Assets – Build and own local datasets in key sectors.
• Support Local Innovators – Prioritize Ghanaian AI firms in procurement and trade missions.

Moving from Consumers to Creators

Ghana's AI future depends on building local capacity. DigiTransact AI shows it is possible to deliver profitable AI solutions while training talent.

When AI tools help a farmer in Volta Region or a doctor in Accra, they should be built, trained, and maintained by Ghanaian experts, using Ghanaian data, and aligned with Ghanaian needs.

By investing in people, empowering local firms, and expanding education, Ghana can secure its place as a leader in the AI era—not as a passive adopter, but as an active creator.

Explore our AI solutions and training programs or contact us to discuss how we can support your organization's AI journey.