Two years ago, if you walked into Mr. Akrofi’s office, you would find a man who had mastered routine. Files neatly stacked. Emails printed and filed. Attendance sheets are cross-checked manually. Mr. Akrofi was a seasoned HR Administrator at a well-known educational institution in Accra. A proud baby boomer. Disciplined, reliable, respected and for years, that was enough. Until the whispers started.“Mr. Akrofi, have you tried using AI tools for shortlisting CVs?”
“Sir, there’s a faster way to draft reports now…”
“Hmm, this ChatGPT thing can actually help with HR admin work oo…”
He would smile politely, nod and move on. To him, it all sounded like noise. Just another wave of social media excitement driven by Gen Z and millennials, something that would pass like every other trend. “Me, I like to do my work properly,” he once said. “These shortcuts, they will bring mistakes.” And just like that, he chose familiarity over curiosity. At first, nothing seemed to change. But slowly, almost quietly, things began to shift around him. Colleagues who once struggled with reports were now submitting them faster. Emails became sharper, clearer, and more structured.
Younger staff completed tasks in half the time and still had room to take on more.
Mr. Akrofi noticed, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he worked harder, stayed longer and doubled down on what he knew. If it took him 2 hours to complete a report, so be it. “At least it’s accurate,” he would tell himself. But deep down, something felt off.
The Moment of Realisation
The turning point didn’t come in a meeting. It didn’t come from management. It came on a quiet Tuesday morning. A Gen Z intern had just joined the HR team. Young, curious and always on his laptop. Within his first week, the intern had: Organised employee records, drafted policy summaries, and created a clean onboarding checklist. All tasks Mr. Akrofi knew took time, real-time.
So one afternoon, he called him over. “My boy, how are you doing all this work so fast?” The intern smiled. “Sir, I’m using AI tools. It helps me structure everything quickly. Then I just review and refine.” There was a pause. For the first time, Mr. Akrofi didn’t dismiss it. He leaned in and said: “Show me.”
A New Beginning
That simple moment changed everything. The intern walked him through it step by step. How to draft emails in seconds. How to summarise documents. How to automate repetitive admin tasks. At first, Mr. Akrofi was skeptical. Then surprised. Then… quiet. Because what he saw wasn’t a shortcut. It was efficiency. It wasn’t replacing his knowledge. It was enhancing it.
For the first time in a long while, Mr. Akrofi felt like a beginner again. And strangely… he didn’t mind.
Later that week, he said something that stayed with the team: “If I had taken this seriously two years ago, my work would have been much easier.” There it was. Not bitterness, not fear, just honesty. From that moment, he changed. He started asking questions. Exploring tools. Learning slowly, but intentionally. And something else happened. His work didn’t just become faster; he worked smarter. Of course, the office noticed. “Ei, Mr. Akrofi is now using AI?” “Charlie, the man has upgraded oo!” “See how his reports are coming now…” There was laughter, admiration and respect. Because growth, no matter how late, will always be noticed.
Mr. Akrofi’s story is not unique. Across offices in Ghana, many professionals stand at the same crossroads: Hold on to what has worked… Or lean into what is coming. AI is no longer a “Gen Z thing.” It is not a trend. It is not optional. It is becoming part of how work gets done, across roles, industries, and experience levels. And the truth is simple: If you do not accept the need to become AI-adoptive, you risk being left behind, no matter the role you occupy. Because the future of work is not waiting. It is already here. That is exactly why platforms like the HR & CEO Wave Summit 2026 matter. Join the discussion on 14th May 2026 at 9:00 am at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra.
If you are a CEO, HR Leader, or decision-maker, this is your opportunity not just to observe the change but to be part of it. Save your seat here.
Gene Office Survival Tip: Don’t wait until change forces you; lean into it while you still have the advantage.
This is the Office Buzz. Work Culture and everything in between.
