Richard Osei-Anim
Innovators, educators, and changemakers recently gathered at the ALX Hub in Accra for an event themed ‘Driving Ghana’s Next Generation of Digital Talent’.
The event brought together key players in the digital ecosystem, all united by a single goal – preparing African youth for a future powered by technology.
Among the standout voices at the event was Coral Reef Innovation Africa, represented by its Managing Partner, Richard Osei-Anim, whose light-hearted introduction, “I make the tea at Coral Reef”, gave way to a stirring presentation that left the audience reflective and inspired.
Coral Reef’s participation was a wake-up call, a rallying point, and a compelling showcase of what it means to drive meaningful change from the ground up.
Mr. Osei-Anim, in a presentation, detailed how artificial intelligence was already transforming industries, from flying planes and diagnosing diseases to revolutionising agriculture and finance.
He noted that over the past few years, Coral Reef has been living out this vision and deployed tens of thousands of smart devices across districts in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service.
He continued that a significant part of Coral Reef’s work has been dedicated to girls, children with disabilities, and underserved regions adding his organisation has installed digital labs in dozens of special needs schools, ensuring that no child was excluded from the future simply because of a condition or circumstance.
In collaboration with the Otumfuo Foundation, he said support has been extended to schools in Wiawso, Kona, Gona, and the Ahafo regions, creating access points where none existed.
“The ambition is continental. Coral Reef is building a Pan African footprint in collaboration with Access Bank, bringing its model of inclusive digital transformation to countries such as Nigeria and Eswatini.”
Mr. Osei-Anim furthermore said Coral Reef was not waiting for ideal conditions as it was creating them. “With faith in people and the power of partnerships, we are transforming forgotten communities into digital havens and bridging the gap between what is and what could be.”
By Samuel Boadi