Africa must lead in AI application — Richard Osei-Anim takes senior role at Ishmael Yamson & Associates
Ishmael Yamson & Associates has appointed digital transformation strategist Richard Osei-Anim as Senior Partner to lead its Organisational Transformation Advisory — AI Global Practice, signalling a decisive move to deepen its artificial intelligence advisory capabilities at a time of rapid technological change across African markets.
The firm said the appointment reflects a strategic investment as artificial intelligence reshapes how enterprises compete, operate and create value. In his new role, Mr Osei-Anim is expected to steer clients beyond exploratory discussions about AI towards structured implementation and measurable impact.
For Mr Osei-Anim, the move represents what associates describe as a natural progression after more than a decade of hands-on leadership in large-scale digital transformation initiatives across the continent.
As Group Chief Executive of Durham & Cheshunt Holdings and Coral Reef Innovation Africa, he has led the rollout of digital learning ecosystems that have reached about one million learners and teachers across Africa, equipping them with AI, STEM and future-of-work competencies.
Among his most notable initiatives is Ghana’s National Digital Literacy Project, which deployed 45,000 devices, established 700 Smart Labs nationwide and trained 1,400 teachers. The programme has since become a benchmark for national-scale digital education reform in several African countries.
Mr Osei-Anim also co-launched LearnAIrium, an AI-powered learning platform developed in collaboration with Intel, MTN, ABSA, Coronation and Old Mutual. Beyond education, he has mentored more than 120 start-ups and helped mobilise nearly 50 million dollars in seed capital, contributing to the expansion of Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
His advisory portfolio spans both public and private sector institutions, including Ghana Cocobod, Newmont Ghana, UNESCO, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, the Otumfuo Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, GIZ, Oxfam, MTN, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service.
Reflecting on the demands of his new position, Mr Osei-Anim said African organisations must move swiftly from dialogue to execution.
"Artificial intelligence is no longer optional — it is foundational to competitiveness, productivity, and long-term resilience. My focus at IY&A will be to help organisations move beyond AI conversations to structured implementation, governance, and measurable enterprise value creation. Africa must not just consume AI — we must strategically lead in how it is applied for sustainable growth,” he said.
In his capacity as Senior Partner, he will advise clients on enterprise AI strategy, organisational redesign, governance and risk frameworks, executive and board advisory, and workforce transformation to build AI-ready talent pipelines.
The firm said the appointment reinforces its commitment to enabling clients not only to adapt to technological disruption but to lead in its application.
Mr Osei-Anim holds an MBA from Durham Business School and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and Kirton Adaptor-Innovation Consultant. A former lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and the University of Greenwich, he combines academic grounding with entrepreneurial experience and board-level advisory expertise.
He currently serves as a director of Wanderlust Ghana, an expedition initiative promoting global exploration and leadership development.
Ishmael Yamson & Associates describes itself as a leading African management consulting firm providing advisory services in organisational transformation, governance, enterprise growth and leadership development. With the creation of the AI Global Practice under Mr Osei-Anim’s leadership, the firm is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s digital competitiveness agenda.