Accra: The chief executive of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, has issued a call to the country's mining industry to transform its approach to talent development. She emphasized that the sector's success in leveraging artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies hinges on the workforce's ability to quickly acquire new skills.
According to Ghana Web, Ing. Obo-Nai delivered the keynote address at the 7th Biennial Human Resource Conference of the Ghana Chamber of Mines. She stressed that technology alone cannot transform organizations; people are the key drivers of change through technology. Ing. Obo-Nai urged companies to prioritize adaptability, curiosity, and learning agility in their recruitment processes.
Speaking at the conference, held at The Palms by Eagles in Accra, she outlined three key priorities for cultivating a future-ready workforce: developing agile skills, embedding continuous learning into daily work, and leveraging diversity to enhance innovation. The event attracted leaders from the mining industry, human resource professionals, and other stakeholders to discuss the skills and leadership needed for the sector's growth.
Drawing insights from the telecommunications industry, Ing. Obo-Nai highlighted the importance of continuous learning in adapting to rapid changes. She noted that the mining industry must prepare its workforce before skills become obsolete and emphasized the need for ongoing access to new knowledge.
Ing. Obo-Nai also called on mining companies to enhance efforts in attracting and retaining women in engineering, technology, and technical fields. She cited Telecel's initiatives, such as the Female Engineering Students Scholarship Programme and the DigiTech Academy, as examples of supporting women and youth in STEM fields.
Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey opened the conference by underlining the potential within Ghana's mining industry. He advocated for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to facilitate the exchange of research, knowledge, and talent. Dr. Ashigbey envisioned the future workplace as one that fosters experimentation, learning, and innovation, describing the "mine of the future" as a classroom.
As the mining sector braces for a technology-driven future, the Chamber of Mines' conference underscores the strategic role of human resources in building the capabilities necessary for the industry's competitiveness.