Ghana’s next phase of digital transformation will depend on more than connectivity. It will require the infrastructure, capabilities and strategic decisions needed to compete in an AI-driven global economy.In this episode of Building Bytes, we speak with Ibrahim Misto, Chief Digital Officer at MTN Ghana, about the foundations of Ghana’s AI economy and what it will take to translate technological progress into lasting economic value.From the evolution of telecommunications and the economics of data to AI adoption, digital trust and corporate-startup collaboration, we explore the opportunities and infrastructure gaps that will shape Ghana’s digital future. We also examine lessons from mobile money, the potential for African-built technology to achieve global relevance, and the priorities Ghana must address to build a competitive AI economy by 2030.ABOUT BUILDING BYTESBuilding Bytes is a technology, entrepreneurship and ecosystem-focused media platform by Insights Lab, exploring the people, companies and ideas shaping Ghana’s digital economy.Part of our Ghana Tech Rising series, this episode is brought to you by Insights Lab, with production support from Hubtel, and recorded at Hubtel Academy.Watch on MX24: Thursdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM.Hosts: Poga Kuofie and Caleb Lamptey.Subscribe for more conversations on technology, innovation and the future of Ghana’s digital economy.
The AI revolution may feel new, but some African builders have been preparing for it for years. 🤖🚀In this episode of Building Bytes, we sit down with Ronald Tagoe, tech entrepreneur, AI advocate, and CEO of mNotify, to explore his journey of building technology in Ghana long before AI became mainstream.From starting his entrepreneurial journey in Ghana’s emerging tech ecosystem to building mNotify, developing chatbot solutions, founding Chatbots Africa, and helping businesses explore practical applications of AI, Ronald has spent more than a decade building at the intersection of technology, business, and customer engagement.He shares the lessons from building products before the market was ready, the evolution of customer engagement technology from SMS to WhatsApp and AI, and what he believes African businesses need to do differently as artificial intelligence transforms the way companies operate.This episode covers:• Ronald’s journey into technology and entrepreneurship• The early days of building mNotify in Ghana• What it was like building chatbot technology before ChatGPT became mainstream• The evolution from SMS and digital communication to AI-powered customer engagement• Why he founded Chatbots Africa and what he saw coming in the AI space• Building technology for African businesses and understanding local problems• The lessons learned from building and scaling a technology company in Ghana• Why many businesses struggle to adopt new technologies• How businesses can move beyond AI hype and identify practical use cases• The role of WhatsApp, chatbots, and automation in customer engagement• Building AI solutions for real-world problems through projects like GEPBot• What more than a decade of entrepreneurship has taught him about timing, markets, and resilience• The importance of building products that solve genuine problems rather than simply following trends• AI’s impact on African businesses, entrepreneurs, and the future of work• What the next generation of African technology builders should be thinking aboutA Building Bytes production by Insights Lab, with production support from Hubtel, and recorded at Hubtel Academy.🎙️ Season Theme: Ghana Tech RisingThis season follows the founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem builders creating the systems, companies, and technologies shaping Ghana’s digital future.Distribution PartnerThis episode is also featured on Tech Labari — Ghana's leading platform for tech news, insights, and innovation stories.📺 Catch Building Bytes on MX24Thursdays at 8 PM | Sundays at 7 PMRonald Tagoe's story is a reminder that building technology isn't just about chasing the next big trend. Sometimes, it's about seeing where the world is going—and starting to build before everyone else arrives.#GhanaTechRising #BuildingBytes #InsightsLab #GhanaTech #AfricanTech #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Chatbots #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #DigitalAfrica #TechEntrepreneur #StartupAfrica
The startup world loves to celebrate ideas. But ideas alone don't build companies. 🚀In this episode of Building Bytes, we sit down with Daniel Merki, Managing Director of Boxplay Ventures, to explore the infrastructure behind successful startups—and why the most important parts of building a company are often the least visible.From legal structures and accounting systems to operational processes, venture builders are creating repeatable frameworks that help startups move from experimentation to scale. Daniel shares insights from building companies across Ghana and Nigeria, explains the "Corporate Co-Founder" model, and unpacks the lessons he's learned from both successful ventures and costly entrepreneurial mistakes.This episode covers:• What venture building actually means—and how it differs from traditional venture capital• Why legal, financial, and compliance systems are the biggest source of technical debt for many startups• How shared services help startups scale faster and more efficiently• Lessons from building VDL Fulfilment across Accra and Lagos• The operational realities of logistics in African markets• How venture builders think about equity, sweat equity, and founder ownership• Why Boxplay maintains a 20% equity floor for founding teams• The hard lessons learned from running a restaurant business in Osu• Revenue vs profitability, burn rate, and sustainable unit economics• AI, automation, and the technologies creating real value in 2026• The difference between startup hype and scalable business fundamentals• What Ghanaian entrepreneurs need to rethink to build enduring companiesA Building Bytes production by Insights Lab, with production support from Hubtel, and recorded at Hubtel Academy.🎙️ Season Theme: Ghana Tech RisingThis season follows the founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem builders creating the systems and infrastructure that will define Ghana's digital future.Distribution PartnerThis episode is also featured on Tech Labari https://bit.ly/4oCH7CA — Ghana's leading platform for tech news, insights, and innovation stories.📺 Catch Building Bytes on MX24Thursdays at 8 PM | Sundays at 7 PMBehind every successful startup is a stack of systems, processes, and infrastructure. This conversation explores what it takes to build companies that last.
Africa’s fintech story is often told through apps, wallets, and transactions. But beneath every successful fintech product is something deeper: infrastructure.In this episode of Building Bytes, we sit down with Yusif Ya-Adzagey, Founder & Managing Director of Moolre Ghana Ltd, to explore what it really takes to build financial systems across Africa—from engineering reliable payment rails to navigating regulation and expanding across borders.From personally building early web and mobile platforms to securing regulatory licensing from the Bank of Ghana as an Enhanced Payment Service Provider, Yusif shares the realities of building fintech infrastructure under African constraints.We discuss:• Building fintech systems from first principles• Why trust matters more than speed in payments• The engineering realities behind moving money reliably• What most startups misunderstand about payment infrastructure• How regulation shapes fintech product design• The realities of licensing with the Bank of Ghana• Expanding fintech products across African markets• Pan-African fintech: operational reality vs startup narrative• Focus, diversification, and building multiple companies• The uncomfortable truths about African fintech• Infrastructure discipline vs innovation hype• The future of financial systems in AfricaWe also explore the Moolre Startup Cup — a four-month buildathon where teams build real products using Moolre’s APIs across Collections, Disbursements, and USSD infrastructure.Featuring:Yusif Ya-Adzagey — Founder & Managing Director, Moolre Ghana LtdHosted by:Caleb LampteyPoga KuofieYayra OforiBuilding Bytes is proudly brought to you by Insights Lab, with production support from Hubtel, and recorded at the studios of Hubtel Academy.Distribution PartnerThis episode is also featured on Tech Labari https://bit.ly/4oCH7CA — Ghana’s leading platform for tech news, insights, and innovation stories.📺 Watch Building Bytes on MX24:Thursdays at 8 PMSundays at 7 PMIf you’re building fintech products, thinking about infrastructure, or curious about the future of African financial systems, this episode is for you.
Africa’s AI future will not be built by adoption alone. It will be built through infrastructure, research, engineering discipline, and locally relevant innovation.In this episode of Building Bytes, we sit down with Darlington Akogo, Founder & CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, to explore what it really takes to move Africa from consuming AI tools to building world-class AI systems from the ground up.From healthcare diagnostics and medical imaging to agriculture and industrial intelligence, this conversation dives deep into the realities of building deep tech companies in emerging ecosystems like Ghana.We discuss:• Why Africa must move from AI adoption to AI invention• The AI infrastructure stack behind healthcare-grade systems• Data collection, model validation, and clinical deployment• The challenges of building reliable AI in low-resource environments• AI opportunities in healthcare, agriculture, and industry• The realities of scaling deep tech startups in Africa• AI hype vs real value in 2026• What investors misunderstand about AI startups• The future of African AI innovationFeaturing:Darlington Akogo — Founder & CEO, minoHealth AI LabsHosted by:Caleb LampteyPoga KuofieYayra OforiBuilding Bytes is proudly brought to you by Insights Lab, with production support from Hubtel, and recorded at the studios of Hubtel Academy.Distribution PartnerThis episode is also featured on Tech Labari https://bit.ly/4oCH7CA — Ghana's leading platform for tech news, insights, and innovation stories.📺 Watch Building Bytes on MX24:Thursdays at 8 PMSundays at 7 PMIf you’re building, investing in, or simply curious about the future of AI in Africa, this episode is for you.