Nana Bobie Ansah II, Chief of Bonwire in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, has stressed the need to prioritise digital skill training for entrepreneurs, emphasising that Digitalisation is the key to the success of modern business.
According to him, in a world where technology has become an integral part of almost every industry, it was imperative for entrepreneurs to possess a solid understanding of digital skills.
He noted that gone were the days when brick-and-mortar presence was sufficient to draw customers and generate profit.
The Bonwirehene noted that with the rise of the internet, social media and e-commerce, entrepreneurs must adapt to the digital era to remain competitive, by equipping themselves with the necessary digital skills to unlock tremendous growth potential and gain a competitive edge.
He was speaking at a ceremony to climax National Training digital inclusive programme, which is being rollout by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), an agency of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), with their partners at the Bonwire ICT centre.
GIFEC is mandated by the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) to facilitate the expansion of ICTs to the unserved and underserved communities in Ghana for Socio-Economic Development. The exercise was to empower Ghanaian citizens, especially the marginalised Communities.
The Bonwirehene indicated that entrepreneurs must have a firm grasp of website design and development as the website serves as a virtual storefront, making it crucial to create a visually appealing and user-friendly experience for customers.
He stated that, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is paramount for entrepreneurs aiming to increase their online visibility.
He argued that having a well-optimised website could significantly impact your rankings on search engine result pages, leading to increased organic traffic and exposure.
He disclosed that another critical aspect of digital skill training was social media marketing, as social media platforms have become powerful marketing channels, enabling entrepreneurs to connect with their audiences and promote their products/services effectively.
Developing expertise in crafting engaging content, utilizing social media analytics, and understanding different platforms was crucial to harness the potential of these mediums.
He was of the view that entrepreneurs must understand the importance of digital analytics as analyzing data could provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences and purchasing patterns.
According to Nana Bobie Ansah, in today’s digital age, cyber security awareness is of utmost importance for entrepreneurs.
With increasing cyber threats, entrepreneurs must protect their business, customer data and online transactions.
Learning about various security measures, such as data encryption, firewalls and password protection, will safeguard your business against Cyber-attacks.
Mr Alex Kwadwo Boamah, ITU National Project Manager, on his part, disclosed that about 2,850 Trainees with 51% being females have successfully completed the programme.
He noted that the Programme, which began in January 2021, has trained 185 certified instructors and supported ten coding clubs in schools.
According to him, his outfit, in turn, is extending the Programme to 2024Â to deepen the marginalised and explore free course through digital marketing and start-up operations, and also empower ICT instructors.
Alhaji Faisal Issahaku Gbanjili, Director, Administrator and Human Resource, who represented the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) GIFEC, stated that the digital era has transformed the way we live and work.
According to him, the Programme makes it essential for everyone to have fundamental digital literacy as a necessity.
