The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has called for closer collaboration among government, academia and industry to prepare Ghana’s workforce for the changing demands of employment and technological advancement. The call was made at the National Transformation Summit 2026, organised by the Faculty of Management Studies on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Held under the theme “Jobs, Productivity and AI: Reimagining Ghana’s Connected Economy”, the summit brought together academics, industry practitioners, policymakers and students to examine the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for employment, productivity and professional practice.
Addressing participants, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, urged students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and recognise their capacity to create employment opportunities. He encouraged them to acquire relevant skills, build confidence in their abilities and apply their knowledge to initiatives that support self-reliance and enterprise development.
The keynote address, delivered on behalf of the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, highlighted how AI and automation are reshaping the workplace. It emphasised the need to equip Ghana’s workforce with skills that respond to these changes while advancing decent and sustainable employment.
A panel discussion examined how universities and employers could work more closely to strengthen graduate preparation. Ms Elsie Appau-Klu called for sustained university–industry collaboration in reviewing academic curricula to reflect evolving professional demands. Mrs Jacqueline Afful emphasised the importance of a strong foundation of disciplinary knowledge in preparing graduates for professional practice.
Mr Louis Amenyo Adanuty encouraged students to develop practical skills, seek mentorship and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities early in their academic journeys. He also urged them to embrace AI as a tool for innovation.
Offering an institutional perspective, Prof. Esther Attiogbe highlighted UPSA’s interactive and industry-oriented approaches to learning, including design thinking. She called for more internship opportunities to enable students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings and gain experience of workplace expectations.
Mr David Afflu underscored the value of industry participation in curriculum development, identifying communication, financial literacy and digital competence as essential workplace skills. He also stressed the need for responsible use of AI, cautioning participants against sharing confidential information on AI platforms.
Across the discussions, speakers emphasised the complementary roles of academic knowledge, practical experience and continuous learning in preparing graduates for a changing labour market. They called for collective action to ensure that education and skills development keep pace with technological change.
The summit reinforced UPSA’s commitment to connecting academic learning with professional practice and provided a platform for dialogue on Ghana’s employment, productivity and technological transformation priorities.
