The Executive Chairman of CellTel Networks Limited, Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, has made a compelling case for aligning education with industry as a pathway to economic transformation at the inaugural Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Annual Public Lecture on TVET Transformation in Africa, held at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre at the University of Education, Winneba.

The former AGI President, Dr. Kludjeson, delivered his remarks as part of a three-member panel responding to a keynote address by Prof. Tagoe.

He argues there is a critical need to rethink the role of education in national development, positing that Ghana must move beyond traditional academic models to embrace industry-centred training.

“Education is industry,” Dr. Kludjeson emphasised, urging stakeholders to reconsider how institutions prepare students for the real world. According to him, the disconnect between education and industry remains one of the key barriers to job creation and economic growth.

Dr. Kludjeson highlighted the Ashanti Region as an example of an untapped opportunity. With a population comparable to major global innovation hubs, he suggested that the region could be transformed into a technology powerhouse similar to Silicon Valley.

“If you take the Ashanti Region, with about six million people, it is like California,” he said. “So why can’t we transform it into our own Silicon Valley?”

He contrasted Ghana’s reliance on natural resources with the wealth generated through technology and innovation, citing global tech entrepreneurs as examples of the value of intellectual capital.

“The value of gold is not more than $20 billion in revenue for Ghana,” he noted. “But individuals like Elon Musk have created wealth in the trillions through technology. That is where we must focus.”

Central to his argument was the need to integrate education with industry to attract investment and foster innovation. He called for stronger partnerships between academic institutions and private sector players, particularly in technology.

“We must bring in real companies with foundational capital into the educational space, not just rely on donors,” he said.

Dr. Kludjeson also raised concerns about the accessibility and affordability of higher education, pointing to disparities between tuition and accommodation costs in universities. He cited instances where students paid significantly more for housing than for academic fees, describing the situation as unsustainable.

“We need to harmonise these issues,” he urged. “Let us put committees together and fix them so that the system works for students.”

In addition, he challenged academic institutions to increase their global engagement and visibility. He questioned whether Ghanaian professors were actively participating in international conferences, obtaining industry certifications, and contributing to global knowledge networks.

“Are our professors visible on the global stage?” he asked. “Are they certified and connected to industry trends?”

Referencing institutions such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he acknowledged the efforts of academics but stressed that policy constraints often limit innovation. He called for flexibility in policy implementation to allow institutions to experiment with new approaches.

Dr. Kludjeson concluded by urging stakeholders to act with urgency, particularly within the remaining period of the current administration. He proposed a 24-month window to initiate meaningful reforms that would reposition Ghana’s education system for industrial growth.

“Let us begin the transformation process now,” he said. “We must create opportunities, especially for young people in underserved communities, and equip them with the skills and certifications needed to succeed.”

He emphasised that such reforms would not only improve employability but also enable Ghana to reclaim its position as a leader in innovation and development in Africa.