New analysis suggests artificial intelligence (AI) poses a greater long-term job displacement threat than African migrants in countries like South Africa. While South Africa has experienced renewed xenophobic violence against foreign nationals accused of job theft, experts argue AI's rapid development will fundamentally reshape labour markets.
These xenophobic incidents, frequently targeting individuals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Ghana, stem from deep-seated frustrations over scarce employment. South Africa faces high unemployment, particularly among its youth, and significant economic inequality. Migrants often become convenient scapegoats for these economic woes.
This situation holds relevance for Ghana, a nation also navigating its own economic development and employment challenges. Ghana's economy stands to be similarly impacted by global technological shifts. The focus on migration as the primary threat to jobs may divert attention from more profound structural changes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for Ghana's long-term economic planning and workforce strategies.
Historian Yuval Noah Harari describes AI as an agent capable of generating ideas, learning, making decisions, and performing cognitive tasks once exclusive to humans. Harari explains that AI can act as a digital worker, providing services across borders without the need for visas or physical relocation. An AI lawyer or accountant can serve clients globally via cloud computing, unlike human migrants who require housing, healthcare, and transport.
The economic implications for countries like Ghana are significant. AI systems are already automating tasks in legal document drafting, medical image analysis, software development, and financial modelling. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 predicts that while technology will create new roles, it will also displace millions, particularly in administrative and routine cognitive work. This technological disruption presents a systemic challenge beyond mere immigration.
Political strategist Parag Khanna highlights that the 21st century economy is increasingly driven by networks, technology, and supply chains. AI accelerates this reality, allowing companies to outsource professional services not to other countries, but to AI systems in major tech hubs. This means Ghanaian companies could eventually rely on AI for tasks like legal research or customer service, with these 'digital workers' located on servers in the United States or China.
Decision-makers must shift their focus from migration to preparing their workforces for an AI-driven economy. This involves re-evaluating education systems and exploring policies such as taxing AI productivity to fund workforce retraining programs. African countries must also develop their own AI capabilities to avoid becoming passive consumers of foreign technology. Ignoring this fundamental shift could have severe long-term consequences for employment and economic stability.