Ms Sylvia Owusu Ankomah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber and the Ghana Digital Chamber, described the Graduate Development Program as a strategic investment that will shape the future of Africa’s digital economy and build a strong pipeline of talent to play key roles across Africa.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for MTN Ghana Development Program participants on November 20, 2025 at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, Mrs. Owusu Ankomah congratulated the 80 graduates who completed what she described as a life-changing journey that prepares young professionals for success in the fields of technology, digital and business.
She said her experience with the organization exposed her to a strong culture of innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to excellence, noting that the environment feels like home but is ultimately designed to enable graduates to make a meaningful impact beyond the program.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah stressed that the program is purposefully designed to equip graduates with the skills, discipline and resilience necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing digital world and contribute to the transformation of individual countries and Africa as a whole.
She noted the magnitude of MTN’s contribution to capacity building across Africa, noting that it has trained over 500 graduates since its inception. The initiative brings together participants from different parts of Africa, and graduates include participants from 18 African countries who completed training in technology, digital services, and business innovation.
She described the initiative as a strategic response to the growing demand for digital skills across the continent, particularly in technology-driven sectors, and praised the organization for consistently investing in young people. She stressed that for the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber, human resource development is non-negotiable for the growth of the industry and Africa’s digital economy.
Ms Owusu-Ankomah said the future of the industry and Africa’s digital economy rests directly on the shoulders of young people like the graduates. She highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to inclusion and gender diversity through its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-focused initiative, which aims to increase women’s participation in telecommunications and the broader technology sector.
She expressed excitement that approximately 60 percent of graduates are women, saying this is a strong sign of progress in closing the gender gap in technology. According to MTN Ghana’s Acting Chief Human Resources Officer, Abdalla Ibrahim, women currently make up about 43 per cent of the organization’s total workforce, showing tangible progress towards the 2030 target of 50 per cent.
Mrs. Owusu-Ankomah commended the leadership of MTN and its broader group for its commitment to empowering young people, especially women, and purposefully building an inclusive pathway to the digital economy.
Highlighting the company’s deliberate efforts to use the program to increase the number of female employees, Ibrahim said the company is using the Graduate Development Program to increase the number of women. He acknowledged that since the company began its monitoring efforts in 2020, the proportion of female employees has increased by about 5 percent.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah encouraged the graduates as they embark on the next stage of their careers, urging them to combine discipline with creativity, be resilient in the face of pressure, and focus on making an impact beyond personal success. She noted that in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, standing out requires authenticity, continuous learning, and a strong sense of purpose.
She urged graduates to embrace authenticity in an increasingly competitive digital world, saying they needed to break out of their authentic selves to differentiate themselves. She encouraged them to bring their unique perspectives, values and passions to their work and use this as a springboard to make a difference not only in their own organizations, but in Africa and the world at large.
She expressed confidence that the graduates will emerge as innovators, problem solvers and future leaders capable of transforming communities and industries across the continent. Mrs. Owusu-Ankomah praised their ambition, commitment to personal development and pursuit of excellence, stressing that their journey has only just begun.
The graduation ceremony brought together representatives from MTN’s pan-African operations and reflected the company’s commitment to regional expansion and developing leadership talent across markets. Graduates will receive a certificate recognizing the completion of a structured development program and are expected to play a role in supporting MTN’s digital transformation goals.
The graduate development program is in line with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which focuses on cutting-edge digital solutions for Africa’s progress. MTN’s Global Graduate Development Program combines both formal development through partnerships with Duke Corporate Education and MTN Academy and professional development through full employment and placement in strategically aligned roles.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah concluded by once again congratulating the graduates and wishing them all the best in the global digital ecosystem. She expressed confidence that they will shape the future of technology in Africa through innovation and excellence.
