Minister urges marketers to be proactive in harnessing artificial intelligence

Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, urged marketers to proactively employ artificial intelligence (AI) to improve service delivery.He noted that Ghanaian industries were reactive to new technology, forcing them to lag in innovation.'In Ghana and our part of the world, when new technologies are developed, we will always wait when the technology is almost outmoded and we get it introduced,' he said.The minister was speaking at the 35th Chartered Institute of Marketing of Ghana (CIMG) National Marketing Performance Award, held in Accra at the weekend.The ceremony was on the theme 'harnessing the power of AI as a transformative tool for marketers.'The Deputy Minister advised marketers to consider the possibility of AI replacing their services.He urged them to be proactive in learning the digital abilities that are required for the seamless integration of AI into marketing activities.'AI in our contemporary world can shape the industry of marketing, and I therefore encourage marketers here to find ways of including it in their operations. As marketers, this is the time to carry us along to grow commerce in Ghana by including AI in your operations,' he said.Dr. Kasser Tee, National President, CIMG, said AI was set to play a crucial role in marketing through predictive analytics, enabling marketers to forecast trends, customer needs, and market shifts with greater precision.He said that capability would allow marketers to 'stay ahead of the curve,' adapting strategies in real time to meet the ever-changing demands of the marketplace.Dr Tee advised marketers to remain vigilant about AI's ethical implications to maintain the highest levels of openness and transparency.He said marketers must use AI for profit and to create value linking them with their customers and society.On the night, award recipients represented a variety of organizations, including hospitality, the media, insurance, telecommunications, and banking.Among them were Mr. David Eduaful, Managing Director of Labadi Beach Hotel, who won Marketing Man of the Year, and Mrs. Nana Akua Mensa-Bonsu, Managing Director of Primetime Limited, who was named Marketing Woman of the Year.Source: Ghana News Agency