Executive Director of Social Enterprise Ghana, Edwin Zu-Cudjoe, has warned that social enterprises that fail to embrace technology risk being left behind in the rapid shift toward digital-driven development.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Social Enterprise Forum at the British Council in Accra, he said the theme, “Smart Impact: Leveraging Technology to Accelerate Social Innovation,” reflects the urgent need for innovators to adopt new tools to scale impact.

“For social entrepreneurs to make an impact and promote shared prosperity, we need to take advantage of the various technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Quantum Physics, and many more,” he said.

He explained that these technologies offer the shortcuts needed “to leapfrog the barriers necessary for promoting inclusive growth and advance social innovation and address our teething challenges of poverty, lack, and food insecurity.”

Zu-Cudjoe acknowledged government support for young people, entrepreneurs, and underserved groups, citing programmes such as One Million Coders, Adwumawura, the National Apprenticeship Programme, the 24-Hour Economy initiative, Nkoko Nkitinkiti, and the Big Push. But he stressed the need for more inclusive policies.

“For us in the social enterprise community, we urge the government to develop more inclusive initiatives and policies that support the many social entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, young and female entrepreneurs, and persons who are displaced,” he said.

He recommended the Ghana Social Enterprise Policy, the Ghana Social Enterprise Fund, the Start-Up and Innovation Bill, the Start-Up Equipment Financing Policy, the Ghana Social Procurement Bill, and the Inclusive Agribusiness Policy.

He used the forum to thank the organisations that have supported Social Enterprise Ghana over the years.

“We thank World University Services of Canada… We thank the GIZ PECI Project and KfW-African Union Skills Initiative for Africa Projects… We are grateful to Accra Technical University, KPMG, Amahoro Coalition, European Union and SNV 2SCALE… And of course, to Star Ghana Foundation and WACSI,” he said.

The event features goodwill messages, keynote addresses, panel discussions on transformational technologies, presentations on AI for Social Good, and exhibitions of products and services by social enterprises. Financial institutions are also holding dealrooms for entrepreneurs seeking investment.

Zu-Cudjoe stressed that the moment demands bold leadership in innovation.

“The time for us to be at the forefront of social innovation, impact, and transformational change is now,” he declared.

He called for solutions that can “take 20–100 million people out of poverty, address poor road networks, promote good health, develop social housing solutions, and provide decent, dignified, and fulfilling jobs for our young people.”

He saluted technology pioneers such as Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, Dr Nii Quaynor, Herman Chinery Hesse, Dr Thomas Mensah, Estelle Akofio Sowah, Lucy Quist, Patricia Obo-Nai, Yvette Atekpe, Rosy Fynn, and Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, and praised social enterprises including Soronko Academy, Food for All Africa, Nneka Foundation, Farmerline, Grow For Me, IOT Network, Duapa Werkplace, Zaacoal, Ifok, MPharma and SG Mobile Clinic.

He welcomed participants to what he described as a space to “celebrate, engage, network, and create impact.”