Johnny C. Taylor urges focus on Africa’s human capital for economic growth as he arrives in Ghana for Global HR Conference

Johnny C. Taylor, the President and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), says that the human capital of Africa must be a key focus if the continent aspires to improve its economic potential.

Taylor expressed this during a press chat upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport for the Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa (GCHRA) taking place on October 24-25, 2024, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

He emphasized that Africa's human population should be treated like its financial capital, stating, "The most important thing for us to do is to recognize that Africa would be the most populated continent in the world by 2050. This means we must start valuing human beings like we value financial capital, as they are the most crucial assets every economy requires. Our focus will be on the importance of human resources in the global economy."

According to projections, Africa's total population is expected to reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2023, the continent had approximately 1.36 billion inhabitants, with Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt being the most populous countries.

Taylor, a lawyer and highly influential executive in corporate America, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which aims to explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human resources technology across Africa. His keynote will align with the conference theme: "A Global Discourse on Exploring the Emergence and Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Resource Technologies in Africa."

He will be joined by over 15 global speakers, including Irene Asare, Global HR Executive and Board Member at the BBC News (U.K. and Ghana); David Ssegawa, Group Human Resources Director at Equity Bank Limited (Kenya); Emily M. Dickens, Head of Government Affairs and Chief of Staff at SHRM (U.S.); Dr. Francis Eduku, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management (CIHRM); Dr. Najat El Mahdy, Chair of the Qatar HR Forum and Director of Strategy, Organisational Development, and HR at Qatar Financial Centre Regulation Authority (QFCRA) (Qatar); Samuel Brooksworth, Founder and CEO of Remoteli; Fatoumata Doro, Former MD of Vlisco, Ecobank Board Member (Niger); and Farida Bedwei, Platform Product Consultant at Digital Opportunity Trust and Former Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft (Ghana).

Other speakers include Toyosi Odukoya, Sr. Director of Program Operations and Planning at Mastercard Foundation (Nigeria); Prathan Powell Jr., CEO and President of Black in HR (U.S.); Winnie Frimpong, Lead People Scientist and Business Psychologist, Formerly with CultureAmp (U.K.); Khyati Sundaram, CEO of Applied (U.K.); and Khaled Sassi, CEO of Novative (Switzerland).

The conference expects more than 500 participants and will offer valuable insights on how AI and HR technologies can be leveraged to promote growth and innovation in Africa's workplaces. Attendees will have the chance to network with global participants, including HR professionals, tech enthusiasts, and industry leaders. Practical workshops will be conducted to provide attendees with the latest HR tech skills and strategies, as well as global online accessibility and SHRM recertification credits.

#GCHRA24 also provides dynamic opportunities for companies interested in learning more about Africa's workforce and business landscape.

For more information and to register to watch Mr. Taylor's keynote in person or virtually, visit www.gchrafrica.com