HR Focus Africa Conference 2026: Human Resource experts call for inclusive leadership and youth empowerment

Human resource experts have called on employers to expand internship opportunities for young people and adopt inclusive leadership practices to prepare Africa’s workforce for the changing demands of the job market.

The call was made at the HR Focus Africa Conference 2026, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Friday, October 16, under the theme, “Inclusive Leadership and HR Strategies for a Diverse Workforce: A Regional Perspective”.

The conference brought together human resource practitioners and business leaders to discuss workplace inclusion, technological advancement and the skills needed to prepare the continent’s workforce for the future.

During a panel discussion on skills development and career pathways, Nixon Amoah-Awuah, Regional Head of HR for Ghana and Anglophone West Africa at Ecobank, urged private-sector employers to provide more internship opportunities for students.

He said internships could help young people acquire practical skills and understand workplace expectations before entering the job market.

Phyllis Wontumi, Group Head of HR and Administration at KGL Group, also called for stronger collaboration among academia, government and corporate Ghana to ensure that educational curricula meet the needs of employers.

She emphasised the need to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the practical skills required in the workplace.

The panel also challenged organisations to move beyond traditional career structures that prioritise promotion into management positions.

The panellists argued that employees who develop specialised expertise should also have opportunities for career progression and appropriate recognition.

They further highlighted the importance of skills audits and capability mapping to identify employees’ strengths and areas requiring improvement.

The discussion also stressed the need for collaboration across departments and training to help employees use artificial intelligence effectively.

Moderated by Ewurabena Ewudziwa Neequaye, Unit Head of HR Focus, the panel featured Dzidzinyo Foli Gamor, Head of HR Operations and Workforce Transformation at Access Bank Ghana, and Letitia Asiedu-Attafuah, an HR strategist and executive coach.

Earlier, the conference featured a keynote address by Danquah Addo Yobo, Country Manager of Newmont Ghana, on “Driving Regional Excellence: Inclusive Leadership and HR Strategies for Africa’s Diverse Workforce”.

The opening programme also featured a welcome address by Dr Mrs Ellen Hagan, Founder and Group Chief Executive of L’AINE HR and Co-Founder of Legacy Girls’ College.

Another highlight was the launch of the Living Wage Report by Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, following a presentation by James Laar, Managing Director of L’AINE HR.

The conference also held panel discussions on the future of work in Africa, with particular attention to artificial intelligence, automation and human capital readiness.

The session on “The Future of Work in Africa: AI, Automation and Human Capital Readiness” was moderated by Ato Abassah and featured Ibrahim Abdallah, Kojo Van-Ess and Sandra Narh.

A separate discussion on “Inclusive Leadership Beyond Rhetoric: Building Equitable and Diverse Workplaces” was moderated by Georgina Bartels, with William Easmon, Kwabena Yeboah and Dzifa Romano Mensa serving as panellists.

The discussions highlighted the need for employers to create equitable workplaces, invest in workforce development and recognise different forms of employee contribution.

The conference concluded with calls for stronger cooperation among employers, government and educational institutions to improve employability and prepare Africa’s workforce for emerging opportunities.