The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) and GIZ Ghana are seeking private sector partners to help train at least 120 young Ghanaian professionals and tertiary graduates in artificial intelligence and provide them with work placements.

Under the programme’s “Train 2, Place 2” model, participating organisations would nominate two employees for free training and offer two programme graduates internships, project-based contracts or full-time jobs.

The appeal came at a stakeholder engagement meeting for the AI for Professionals Programme at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra, where employers, development partners and government representatives discussed the skills businesses need as AI changes the workplace.

KNUST is implementing the programme in partnership with GIZ Ghana. Employers are being invited to identify skills gaps, help shape the curriculum and submit business challenges for participants to address through supervised projects.

The programme’s lead consultant and team leader, Dr Emmanuel Ahene of KNUST, said AI skills were increasingly important in recruitment.

“We believe that it’s very likely that in the future, most employers may hesitate to employ people without any AI skills,” he said.

GIZ Head of Programme Arlett Stojanovic said the focus was on helping businesses use existing AI tools to improve their operations.

“Actually, where it might make a big difference is if you succeed in introducing it in the company to improve productivity,” she said.

Training will combine face-to-face laboratory sessions, online learning and industry projects. KNUST in Kumasi will serve as the main training hub, with the University for Development Studies in Tamale operating as a satellite hub.

Participants will specialise in one of four areas: AI for creatives; data analytics and business intelligence; AI-augmented software development; or digital marketing and e-commerce.

Employers reviewed draft course components in breakout sessions covering the four areas and were invited to sign partnership agreements and nominate employees for the first cohort.

Participation is free and based on a non-binding partnership agreement. Partner organisations will also review and validate the curriculum to help ensure that training reflects workplace needs.

Organisers said the programme aimed to address youth unemployment and digital skills gaps while helping small and medium-sized enterprises improve productivity. Although it welcomes business challenges across all four training areas, it has a particular interest in agribusiness.

The initiative falls under the Private Sector and Innovation Promotion in Ghana (PSInno) programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

PSInno is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to promote sustainable economic growth and job creation.

Applications for the first cohort of 120 participants are expected to open around October 29, 2026. Selection will be competitive, with an emphasis on young people and women.

Participants will complete business-related projects before certification, after which graduates will be matched with partner organisations for placement.

Organisations interested in joining the programme can complete the partnership form.