By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])
Former President of Germany, Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff, has paid visit to the Accra office of AmaliTech, an Information Technology (IT) service company, as part of his visit to Ghana.
Mr. Wulff, who was President of Germany from 2010 to 2012, was among the distinguished guests at President John Mahama’s inauguration on January 7, 2025, and took the opportunity to assess AmaliTech’s progress following the company’s expansion into the Ghanaian market.
Established in 2019, AmaliTech operates as a service company that trains graduates in IT skills and provides them with employment opportunities in its service centres in Ghana, Rwanda and Germany. The company specialises in software development, quality assurance, data science and cyber-security, with an expanding focus on artificial intelligence.
The visit to AmaliTech highlighted the former president’s keen interest in youth empowerment, job creation and economic development—areas of mutual importance to both Ghana and Germany.
Speaking during his tour, Mr. Wulff expressed admiration for the work being done by the IT services provider, which trains local talent to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions for international clients.
“I am totally impressed that so many young IT-trained people in Ghana are working for a German company and advising German clients in future fields like artificial intelligence, data security and intelligence. This collaboration is a success model benefitting both Ghana and Germany,” he remarked.
Digital talent gap
He also lauded Ghana’s education system and its motivated young workforce, noting that Europe’s declining youth population underscores the need for collaborations like AmaliTech’s.
He emphasised that such partnerships not only address Germany’s digital talent gap, but also create opportunities for Ghanaian youths to showcase their expertise globally.
The former president emphasised that Ghana’s well-educated youth can drive innovation and economic growth, creating a mutually beneficial relationship for both nations, while encouraging targeted collaborations in education, technology and economic development.
Thought on 24-hour economy
Mr. Wulff also shared his thoughts on Ghana’s new government agenda, which includes promoting a 24-hour economy.
He described the initiative as “an excellent idea” with significant potential to boost Ghana’s global competitiveness.
“There is no time difference between Germany and Ghana, which facilitates seamless collaboration. Additionally, with clients in America, night services can also be provided, ensuring round-the-clock readiness. This could become a trademark for Ghana,” he noted.
AmaliTech’s Director of Operations, Matthew Opoku-Darkwa, added his voice, emphasising the importance of infrastructure and demand to driving the success of the policy.
For instance, “Our business (IT space) needs only three things: electricity, Internet and talent. With these in place, the government’s 24-hour economy initiative provides an additional layer of support to attract more clients and create jobs”, he said.
Youth talent as Ghana’s new resource
Mr. Opoku-Darkwa also underscored the importance of investing in Ghana’s youth as a key driver of economic growth.
He highlighted the country’s well-educated population as an asset that can address the global shortage of IT professionals. “Our biggest resource as a country is our youth. Europe, particularly Germany, is struggling with a shortage of digital talent. Ghana has the talent; and with proper training and skill development, we can bridge the gap, creating a win-win scenario,” he reiterated.
“Unemployment is a challenge, but with the right alignment, companies will come to Ghana, creating jobs and opportunities for our youth. Digital and IT skills should be the new projection for our country,” he added.
Impact and outlook
Mr. Opoku-Darkwa highlighted the company’s impact, noting that they have trained over 2,000 people and employed around 500, primarily in Ghana.
AmaliTech’s ambitious plans include training an additional 1,000 individuals by 2025, bringing the total number trained to 3,000. The company also aims to expand its client base and continue providing tailored training programmes to meet industry demands.
