Microsoft Ghana's newly appointed country manager, Derek Appiah, plans to focus on youth unemployment in his new role, with specific attention to developing employability skills.

According to the World Bank 65% of Ghana's youth is unemployed. However, Appiah hopes to change such statistics by making a significant impact on Ghana's youth development.

Appiah's team plans to focus on developing youth employability skills, which he believes will help to develop Ghana's business ecosystem, reads a statement.

He also wants to lift Microsoft's profile in Ghana and ensure the company plays a more active role in the country, and add more value now that it has offices in the West African nation.

"What I love most about Ghana is its young and vibrant population. They are peace-loving and punch above their weight intellectually, making them the perfect candidates to take the country forward if they can acquire the necessary skills," said Appiah in a statement.

"I believe there is enormous potential for technology to change lives in the emerging world, so this is an opportunity to make a big impact using Microsoft to enable productivity for businesses, government and consumers," he added.

According to Appiah although technology and ICT skills are generally low in Ghana, he believes this is improving.

"Young people are an asset to our society, and even more so if they are adequately equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to create a brighter future for themselves and for Ghana," he concluded.