Afia Gyamera captured during the round table discussion
Afia Gyamera, CEO of 40 Analytics, has highlighted critical challenges facing Africa’s data landscape, stressing that the continent does not suffer from a scarcity of data but rather from poor organisation and structure.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Chief Technology and Innovation Officers (CTIO) Roundtable Africa 2026, she noted that although conversations around advanced technologies such as language learning models, automation and agentic AI are gaining traction, many African businesses still rely on outdated methods of data collection.
“Believe me, we are talking about language learning models and automation, but if you go to most business organisations right now, you will be surprised to find that people are still collecting data with books and pens,” she said.
She explained that data fragmentation remains a major obstacle to effectively leveraging artificial intelligence.
“People are still entering the same customer names into four different software applications. Reports that could provide valuable insights for AI models are not being published,” she stated, adding that the lack of structured data limits the meaningful use of advanced AI tools.
The CEO also drew attention to the talent gap in the industry, noting that many organisations lack dedicated data professionals.
“How many organisations here can say they have a data specialist on their team?” she queried. She warned that without personnel focused on organising and structuring data, inefficiencies will persist and hinder the continent’s progress.
“If we can address these challenges, we can unlock the potential of AI and drive growth across various sectors,” she asserted and called for a deliberate effort to strengthen data culture and capabilities across African organisations.
Bernard Acquah, Chief Information Officer of MTN Ghana, urged businesses to move beyond fears that artificial intelligence will replace human jobs.
He stressed that the true value of AI lies in its ability to enhance human capability, improve decision-making and serve as a “partner in productivity” rather than a competitor.
He encouraged organisations to invest in training employees to use AI tools effectively, noting that human judgment remains essential in interpreting AI outputs and correcting potential inaccuracies or “hallucinations.”
MTN Ghana’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Angela Mensah-Poku, described artificial intelligence as one of the most significant technological shifts of the modern era, urging African businesses to position themselves to fully benefit from its opportunities.
She emphasised that discussions on AI must extend beyond efficiency and cost savings to include inclusion, sustainability and long-term resilience.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke