The Chief Executive Officer of VODEC Africa, Daniel Asomani, has urged Ghana to shift its development focus from natural resources to its greatest asset—its people.

Speaking at the National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) 2025 in Accra, he declared: “Our greatest resource is not gold or oil, it is our people.”

Mr. Asomani argued that while Ghana is rich in natural wealth, its true strength lies in the talent and potential of its citizens.

He warned that the country’s failure to adequately invest in education, skills development, and productivity enhancement has left its workforce ill-prepared for the demands of the modern economy.

“This is a tragic waste of talent and a major obstacle to Ghana’s development,” he said.

A Human Capital Revolution

Outlining an ambitious plan, the VODEC Africa CEO proposed a “human capital revolution” to unlock the nation’s potential.

His proposals included establishing world-class technical and vocational training institutes in every region, introducing productivity-based incentive systems across the public and private sectors, and launching a National Talent Retention Program to keep Ghana’s brightest minds at home.

The goal, he said, is to increase productivity by 40 per cent and cut unemployment from the current 19.7 per cent to below 10 per cenr.

He stressed: “We must transform Ghana into a human capital powerhouse through strategic investments in education, skills development, and productivity enhancement.”

A Call to Invest in People

Mr. Asomani described the initiative as a national call to action, urging both the government and the private sector to work together to nurture talent, reward hard work, and expand opportunities.

He further challenged Ghanaians to embrace lifelong learning and take responsibility for their own personal and professional growth.