MTN Ghana hosted its maiden CTIO Roundtable Conference in Accra on 25^th April, 2023. The event brought together Chief Technology Innovation Officers (CTIOs) from across Africa to discuss the latest trends in digital transformation and emerging technologies.

The inaugural edition of the CTIO Roundtable gathered leading CTIOs from all industries, notably banking, technology, mining, insurance, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, media experts and government. It featured keynotes, panels, debates and roundtable discussions that provided key insights into best practices

The conference was held under the theme “Harnessing digital transformation and emerging technologies in the post-pandemic world.” The theme was chosen in recognition of the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the way we live and work.

The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, and CTIOs are playing a critical role in helping businesses adapt to this new reality. The conference provided CTIOs with an opportunity to share best practices, learn about new technologies, and network with their peers.

Keynote Speaker

The keynote speaker at the conference was Mr. Daniel Asare, the Ag Chief Enterprise Business Officer of MTN Ghana. Mr. Asare spoke about the importance of digital transformation for businesses, and he highlighted the role that MTN is playing in helping businesses in Ghana transform digitally.

Panel Discussion

The conference also featured a panel discussion on the topic of “Building back better: the role of CTIOs in a digital-first world.” The panel was moderated by Mr. Foster Akugri, the Head of Innovation, Old Mutual. The panelists included:

Mr. Dario Bianchi, the Chief Digital Officer of MTN Group

Ms. Sylvia Otuo Acheampong, the Head of Product and Services at Mobile Money Limited

Mr. Setornam Yao Dosoo, Meta Client Solutions Manager for Entravision

Mr. Derek Appiah-Kubi, the Co-Founder and CEO of Startek Africa

Mr Solomon Kofi Richardson, Director of Technical Services of the National Information Technology Authority (NITA)

Key Takeaways

Some of the key takeaways from the conference included:

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, and CTIOs are playing a critical role in helping businesses adapt to this new reality.

Digital transformation is not just about technology; it is also about changing the way businesses operate.

CTIOs need to be able to think strategically about how to use technology to improve their businesses.

CTIOs need to be able to work closely with other stakeholders in their businesses, such as the CEO, CFO, and CMO.

CTIOs need to be able to keep up with the latest trends in technology.

Conclusion

The MTN Ghana CTIO Roundtable Conference was a valuable event for CTIOs from across Africa. The conference provided CTIOs with the information and insights they need to help their businesses succeed in the digital age.

Inclusion

One of the hurdles in digital transformation was the discussion of inclusion/accessibility. This stemmed from Mr. Darrio Bianchi’s statement about hoping to switch off USSD (the technology that allows users to interact with various services or access information by typing short codes on their mobile phones) in future, which is a popular way people to access financial services in rural areas.

This move would hopefully accelerate the adoption of smartphones and internet access in rural areas, which will help to improve inclusion.

Overall, the MTN Ghana CTIO Roundtable Conference was a successful event that provided valuable insights for CTIOs from across Africa. The conference highlighted the importance of digital transformation and the role that CTIOs can play in helping businesses succeed in the digital age.