Ghana-China Business Summit: Panelists Urge Basic-Level ICT Education to Accelerate Digital Transformation

At the ongoing Ghana-China Business Summit 2025, leading voices from Ghana and China are calling for an urgent overhaul of the country’s education system to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training from the basic level, framing it as the cornerstone of Ghana’s digital transformation and long-term competitiveness.

The summit, themed “The Big Push”, is convening over 120 Chinese companies and investors alongside Ghanaian policymakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. It aims to deepen bilateral trade and unlock new growth areas in infrastructure, technology, and industrialization.

During a high-profile panel on innovation, experts stressed that Ghana must equip its youth with foundational digital skills starting as early as primary school in order to position the country for success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Most basic schools in Ghana already teach ICT as part of the educational curriculum. However gaps persist in rural and semi-urban areas where infrastructure is a challenge.

Tech Skills Must Begin Early

Reverend Kennedy Okosun, Executive Chairman of KRIF Ghana Limited, highlighted that ICT is no longer a futuristic concept but a current imperative.

“ICT is today, now and not tomorrow. We cannot delay any fur­ther. It must be made compulsory from the basic level up,” he stressed, advocating for compulsory ICT education across all levels. He argued that Ghana’s policy and legal frameworks must evolve to match the demands of a fast-digitising world.

Backing this view, Derick D. Akubia, Director of International Relations at Capital Shipping Ghana Limited, underscored the economic urgency of digital adoption.

“Technology is not optional; it is a necessity. Ghana must get on the global digital bus or risk being left behind,” he said, urging companies to integrate digital platforms to enhance efficiency and customer service.

Dr. Lionel Lawson, CEO of Gtech Solutions, pushed for locally developed digital content, noting that most coding and robotics curricula currently taught in Ghanaian schools are imported and lack contextual relevance. He called for an educational shift that nurtures young talent through coding, AI, and robotics using tools tailored to Ghana’s developmental needs.

China as a Strategic Partner

Bringing an international perspective, Prof. Li Hui of Perkins University in China pointed to Chinese innovations as a model for Ghana’s digital leap. He said China stands ready to collaborate by providing affordable, globally competitive technology solutions.

“Chinese innovations can help Ghana leapfrog its development stages,” he remarked, positioning Chinese-Ghanaian partnerships as a key enabler of rapid digital growth.

With Ghana’s youth comprising over 57% of the population under 25, panellists agreed that digital education is no longer a policy choice but a national imperative.

Read More