Ghana’s Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, represented Ghana on a high-profile panel at the Global Citizen NOW: Detroit summit, joining international thought leaders including billionaire investor Mark Cuban, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, and Detroit’s Poet Laureate, Jessica Care Moore.

Framed by the summit’s goal of addressing urgent urban challenges through bold ideas and action, panels explored the future of innovation, youth empowerment, small business investment, and equity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking to a global audience, Opare Addo delivered a bold and timely message on the role of African youth in shaping the digital future.

“For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it.

“Africa’s youth are not just a demographic statistic, they are the key to unlocking a more just, innovative, and prosperous future. But we must give them the tools not just to consume innovation, but to create it", he noted.

This call to action emphasized the importance of ensuring young people across Ghana and the continent are not left behind as technology transforms economies and societies.

Global dialogue, Ghana’s perspective

The Global Citizen NOW: Detroit summit brought together leaders from across public, private, and creative sectors to discuss how cities can be engines for equity and innovation. Detroit, a city of resilience and cultural renaissance, was chosen for its parallels to cities like Accra, where urban youth populations are rapidly shaping the future.

Opare Addo’s remarks resonated strongly during a discussion focused on the democratisation of AI, job creation, and bridging digital divides, issues that mirror Ghana’s own national priorities.

Other influential voices from the sessions included Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and investor, emphasized how AI tools like ChatGPT are already leveling the playing field for small businesses, calling AI “the great equalizer.”

Marcus Samuelsson, Ethiopian-born chef and restaurateur, discussed the cultural power of food to unite communities and preserve identity, Jessica Care Moore, artist and Detroit Poet Laureate, who warned of the dangers of erasing local identity in the rush to urban renewal, advocating for investments in the arts.

Jessica Nabongo, author and travel expert, reflected on how diversity in Detroit’s neighborhoods shaped her worldview and respect for cultural inclusivity.

Simon Moss, co-founder of Global Citizen, called for cities, not just national governments, to lead the charge against poverty and inequality.
Implications for Ghana

Minister Opare Addo’s advocacy strongly aligned with the summit’s launch of “AI for All,” a global initiative to equip 10 million people, especially underserved youth and women, with AI literacy by 2030.

As AI adoption accelerates globally, Ghana’s leadership on the world stage underscores the country’s readiness to ensure digital transformation is driven by and benefits its youth.