Africa’s ability to compete in the global economy will depend largely on how well it develops its people and prepares its workforce for emerging technologies, speakers at the Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa (GCHRA) have said.

The speakers, including Rita Kusi, Co-founder and Executive Director of Strategy at GCHRA; David Wilson, Co-founder and Executive Director of Operations at GCHRA; and Benedict Bentil, Senior Manager for Enterprise Marketing and Portfolio Management at MTN Ghana, said investment in skills development, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and workforce transformation would be critical to unlocking Africa’s economic potential.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (30 July) ahead of the third edition of the GCHRA conference, Rita Kusi said although Africa had made progress in addressing workforce challenges, the urgency to develop globally competitive talent had increased.

“Africa is becoming the world’s talent hub because we have the largest youth population,” she said.

“Businesses globally are coming to seek talent, but the question is: is the workforce ready? Are they skilled? Are they capable?”

She said while the continent had abundant talent, more needed to be done to equip workers with the skills required to compete internationally.

Kusi explained that the GCHRA was established to create a platform where industry leaders, policymakers, academia and human resource professionals could discuss the future of work and develop solutions to workforce challenges.

She said the conference had grown beyond a gathering into a movement aimed at empowering and inspiring Africa’s HR community.

David Wilson said Africa must urgently prepare for a future where the continent would account for a significant share of the global workforce.

“By 2050, Africa will have half of the world’s workforce. Just think about that. The whole world will be looking at Africa,” he said.

He warned that without deliberate preparation, the continent might not be able to fully benefit from emerging opportunities.

Wilson said artificial intelligence should not be viewed as a threat to jobs but as a tool that would reshape how people work.

“AI won’t take anybody’s jobs per se, but a person who knows AI is going to probably take your job,” he said.

He encouraged workers to develop AI-related skills to remain competitive in the evolving workplace.

Benedict Bentil of MTN Ghana said organisations should focus on helping employees understand and use AI rather than fear its impact.

“There is no fear of AI. There’s only a fear of uncertainty,” he said.

According to him, AI would enable workers to perform tasks faster and more efficiently, adding that the future would favour people who can manage and apply AI effectively.

He noted that while some repetitive jobs could become automated, new opportunities would emerge in areas such as prompt engineering, AI management and training.

“The jobs that will be in more demand are the jobs that control the AI, manage the AI, and even teach people how to use the AI,” he said.

Bentil said organisations needed to continue investing in digital skills training to bridge gaps among employees.

He highlighted MTN’s skills academy, which provides training in areas including artificial intelligence and data analytics.

Kusi argued that human resource professionals must move beyond administrative responsibilities and become key contributors to business strategy.

“HR leaders need to have an enterprise mindset,” she said.

She urged HR professionals to understand other areas of business, including finance and operations, to gain credibility and influence decision-making at the highest levels.

“Don’t ask them to make space for you at the table. Take a chair, move everyone aside and lead those conversations,” she said.

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the strategic importance of HR, as professionals helped organisations navigate workplace disruptions and develop new policies.

Wilson said Africa’s education systems needed to be reviewed to ensure graduates were equipped with skills relevant to the changing world of work.

He said policymakers, businesses and academic institutions needed to collaborate to rethink education and prepare young people for future opportunities.

“The conversation needs to be had about what is the end goal,” he said.

He added that the GCHRA seeks to bring these stakeholders together to bridge the gap between education and industry needs.

The speakers agreed that Africa’s most valuable asset was its people rather than its natural resources.

Kusi said developing human capital would determine whether the continent could transform its resources into economic growth.

“When you develop the people, when you empower them, when they become engaged, when they feel like they have a sense of ownership and accountability, they will take your business to the next level,” she said.

Wilson added that without skilled professionals, Africa would continue to depend on external expertise to exploit its own resources.

The 2026 Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa, themed “Leading the Transformation: HR as a Catalyst for Organisational Success and Global Impact,” is scheduled for August 12 to 15 in Accra.

The conference will feature keynote sessions, masterclasses, discussions on AI, workforce transformation, leadership and the future of work.