Dr Ishmael Yamson, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, has issued a wake-up call for the nation, stressing that Ghana’s economic future depends on giving skilled technicians the same respect and pay as traditional white-collar professionals.

Speaking at the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference on January 6, 2026, he warned that neglecting technical and vocational education could stall the country’s development.

“This mindset must be reset. Skilled technicians in a reset Ghana should command the same respect and pay as a bank manager,” Dr Yamson declared, highlighting the growing disparity between graduates’ skills and the demands of the modern economy.

He noted that thousands of graduates are entering the workforce unemployable because their training is outdated, designed for the economy of the 1980s rather than 2030.

Dr Yamson emphasized that practical skills in welding, mechatronics, agronomy, and toolmaking are just as critical for Ghana’s long-term progress as careers in law, banking, or corporate management.

He called for university curricula to be developed in collaboration with industry bodies to ensure graduates are prepared for real-world jobs.

“The development of this country will not be driven by lawyers, sociologists, and political scientists alone. It will be driven by welders, engineers, agronomists, and toolmakers,” he said.

He also linked the skills gap to broader economic challenges, including inflation, low productivity, and migration of frustrated youth, arguing that a national “reset” in education and skills development is essential for Ghana to compete in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, green energy, and advanced manufacturing.

“This mindset must be reset,” Dr Yamson reiterated, warning that without urgent reforms, generations of young Ghanaians will be trained for jobs that no longer exist.

This call for change underscores the urgent need to revalue technical and vocational education as central to building a sustainable, modern Ghanaian economy.