MTN Ghana is making deliberate and strategic moves to cement its place as a leading force in Africa’s fast-evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem, according to the company’s Chief Digital Officer, Ibrahim Misto. Speaking in an exclusive interview at the Africa Tech Festival 2025 in Cape Town, Misto outlined MTN Ghana’s bold agenda to accelerate AI adoption, deepen digital transformation, and strengthen local innovation capacity.
He said MTN’s commitment to scaling up digital infrastructure, nurturing indigenous talent, and developing homegrown AI solutions places Ghana at the forefront of the continent’s technological future. “Africa needs to develop its own intelligence — we cannot afford to lag behind in the global AI race,” Misto stressed, warning that the continent risks widening the digital and economic gap if immediate action is not taken.
A key focus of MTN’s strategy, he explained, is building African-created AI tools that reflect the continent’s languages, culture, and lived realities. “We want AI created in Africa, by Africans, for Africans. That is our focus,” Misto said, highlighting MTN’s ambition to drive solutions rooted in local needs and community impact.
To support this vision, MTN Ghana is expanding its investments in digital skills development through initiatives such as the Technology Innovation Hub and the One Million Coders Programme. These interventions are designed to equip young people, professionals, and innovators with the technical expertise needed to thrive in an AI-powered global economy. “Our goal is to ensure Ghanaian talent is ready to build and compete,” he noted.
Misto also revealed that MTN Ghana is strengthening its partnerships with emerging startups, offering digital tools, mentorship, and market-access opportunities to accelerate the growth of scalable solutions. This forms part of MTN’s wider push to transition from a traditional telecommunications company into a full-fledged digital services provider.
As part of its digital evolution, MTN Ghana is rolling out new services for homes and businesses, including smart-home systems, digital security solutions, entertainment platforms, and AI-driven business productivity tools. These offerings, Misto said, are designed to elevate customer experience and support Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Despite the strong momentum, Misto cautioned that Africa’s digital future hinges critically on reliable and affordable energy. “The cost of intelligence is tied to the cost of energy. We can build data centres, but governments must fix energy. Partnership is the only way forward,” he emphasized, calling for strengthened collaboration between governments, industry players, and innovators to overcome infrastructural barriers.
The Africa Tech Festival 2025 — the 28th edition of the continent’s premier technology convergence — attracted over 15,000 participants, 300 exhibitors, and 450 speakers, underscoring Africa’s growing influence in global tech innovation. With discussions centred on AI expansion, cloud adoption, fintech development, and digital transformation, the event reaffirmed the region’s fast-rising digital momentum.
As MTN Ghana increases its investments in innovation, talent, and infrastructure, Misto believes the company is uniquely positioned to help Ghana claim a central role in shaping Africa’s AI-driven future. He reiterated that collaboration, innovation, and sustained investment will be the key pillars driving the continent’s digital readiness in the years ahead.
