Telecel CEO urges digital connectivity to unlock Africa’s prosperity

Mr. Moh Damush, Chief Executive Officer of the Telecel Group, has emphasized the critical role of digital connectivity, skills development, and innovation in driving Africa’s economic transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He made the call when he delivered a message at the Presidential & Business Leaders’ Dialogue, held on Day Three of the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD).

The dialogue, held under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women & Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade,” took place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Friday, 6th February, 2026.

Mr. Damush mentioned that Africa’s wealth in land, minerals, and talent is only valuable when paired with knowledge, technology, and effective governance.

“Resources alone are like seeds kept in a jar — dormant until knowledge and brains turn them into solutions that transform lives,” he said.

Mr. Damush underscored that the era of artificial intelligence and digital acceleration has expanded the concept of knowledge beyond classrooms.

It now encompasses skills, connectivity, and smart regulations — a combination he described as the engine of “prosperity-fueled growth.”

The Telecel CEO argued that AfCFTA’s success will no longer be measured solely by the movement of goods, but by the creation of a digital single market across Africa’s 1.4 billion people.

He illustrated this with the example of a young female entrepreneur in Kampala producing natural skincare products who, through digital platforms and simplified trade regulations, can sell to consumers in Lagos, Nairobi, or Kigali without a physical shop.

“Connectivity isn’t just an economic tool; it’s an equalizer,” he said, noting that women account for nearly 70 percent of informal cross-border traders and are 17 percent more likely to adopt digital tools when trade barriers fall.

Mr. Damush also stressed the importance of involving youth and SMEs, who make up over 60 percent and 90 percent of Africa’s population and businesses, respectively.

"They should not only be beneficiaries but builders of Africa’s single market,” he added.

At Telecel, Mr. Damush said, the company is advancing connectivity and digital innovation to enable trade and entrepreneurship.

Through cross-border payment corridors, Telecel is facilitating regional integration and inclusive growth by making it easier for SMEs to conduct business across borders via mobile money.

The company’s initiatives, including the Telecel Digital Academy and Starter Code for Education, equip youth with foundational and advanced digital skills, opening pathways into STEM and technology careers.

Additionally, the Africa Startup Initiative provides mentorship, market access, and investment opportunities to early-stage ventures, enabling them to scale and create jobs.

Telecel also supports women-led SMEs through its Women in Business initiative, which offers training, digital tools, networking, and financial access through a structured six-pillar ecosystem designed to accelerate female entrepreneurship.

Mr. Damush highlighted that much of this work is led by women within Telecel, ensuring that investments create measurable impact.

He argued that empowering SMEs, women, and youth is not charity but an economic necessity.

“Africa’s single market is not a policy; it is a promise. A promise that innovation will be rewarded, that collaboration will replace fragmentation, and that prosperity will be shared,” he said.

Mr. Damush further called for action to ensure that African SMEs scale, women lead, and youth build, adding: “If we do this, Africa will not simply prosper. Africa will redefine prosperity.”

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Hawa Abubakar