MTN Ghana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thrive & Shine, a youth-led digital skills organisation, to promote artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and bridge the digital divide in Ghana.

The partnership establishes a long-term framework for skills development mentorship, internships and practical learning opportunities and industry exposure, moving beyond one-off event sponsorship.
Speaking at the signing, MTN Ghana’s Chief Digital Officer, Ibrahim Misto, said the decision to formalise the partnership was driven by Thrive & Shine’s focus on closing the AI literacy gap and expanding access to digital skills among young people.

According to him, the partnership aligns with MTN’s broader commitment to promoting AI for all and using technology as a tool for social and economic development across Ghana and the wider African continent.

He added that the MoU reflects a long-term approach to nurturing young talent by providing access to platforms where they can develop practical skills, test ideas and co-create solutions with industry players.

“This is not about a single activity or sponsorship. We are creating opportunities for young people to learn, receive mentorship, undertake internships and work on real-life use cases where artificial intelligence can be applied to solve existing problems,” Mr. Misto said.
“As an organisation, we believe agencies like ours must go beyond transactions and sponsorships to become more strategic partners throughout the journey, especially when young innovators are at the early or challenging stages of their work,” he added.

Mr. Misto described the collaboration as a journey that requires continuous engagement, noting that building meaningful digital capacity cannot be achieved through short-term interventions.

Co-founder of Thrive & Shine, Yvonne Eyram Dumor-Boakye Manu, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant step in advancing the organisation’s mission to expand access to opportunities in the digital space.

She said the agreement formalises a shared conviction that while talent is widely available, opportunities to develop and apply digital skills—particularly in AI—remain limited for many young people.

“Our objective is to close that gap and ensure young people are equipped to compete in the AI space. “We want to move beyond consuming AI technologies to building solutions from Africa for the global market,” she said.

Ms. Dumor-Boakye Manu noted that increasing awareness and engagement around AI is critical to strengthening Ghana’s technology ecosystem, adding that sustained dialogue and action are necessary to drive growth in the sector.

In line with that, she cited their upcoming stakeholder engagement focused on science, technology, and data as the building blocks of AI, saying it will bring together educators, industry players, students, and policymakers.

She encouraged young people, especially women pursuing careers in technology, to remain curious, ask questions and persevere, stressing that learning and innovation thrive in environments where inquiry is encouraged.