Actor and comedian Clemento Suarez has encouraged Senior High School students in the Upper West Region to acquire digital skills alongside their formal education to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
He made the call during the fifth edition of the Start Right programme held at the assembly hall of Wa Technical Institute. The initiative, organised by School of Thoughts, seeks to equip students with knowledge, guidance and practical skills for the future.
Speaking to participants, Clemento stressed the importance of digital literacy in today’s global economy.
“Digital skills are a must-have. As a young adult, you cannot just go with science, English, grammar and mathematics and not have digital skills or training skills,” he said.
He urged students to use digital tools and online platforms such as YouTube and ChatGPT to learn and develop themselves rather than relying on them solely for entertainment.
According to him, digital skills should complement, not replace, traditional education.
“It is very important that we don’t throw away the traditional learning. We just merge it and add the acquisition of digital skills to it,” he stated.
Business Advisor Prakash Pyne said young people should move beyond using platforms such as TikTok solely for entertainment and instead use them as tools for economic empowerment.
According to him, students can create content, market their talents and develop businesses online to supplement future earnings. He noted that with the rising cost of living, multiple sources of income have become increasingly important.
Prakash Pyne also advised students to avoid using social media for insults and negative content.
Instead, he urged them to showcase the rich culture, traditions, tourist attractions, businesses and economic opportunities in the Upper West Region, stressing that such content could promote the region while creating opportunities for young content creators.
Founder of School of Thoughts Ghana, Abraham Agoni, says the organisation’s “Start Right” empowerment programme is focused on improving education through mentorship, human capacity development, and opportunity creation.
Since 2019, the initiative has reached over 3,000 students in Northern Ghana and is expanding to the Upper West Region, with a call for more partners and volunteers.
