The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has officially launched the one million coders program, a flagship initiative of the ruling government to equip Ghanaian youth with digital skills.
The program, according to the sector minister, Sam George, is meant to equip the youth with the digital skills they need not just to survive but to lead in the 21st-century economy. “It is about preparing a generation of thinkers, builders, and problem solvers who will shape the future of this nation with code in their hands and opportunity in their sights,” he said.
The One Million Coders program is designed to bridge the gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands, to boost digital literacy nationwide, and equip the youth to compete and thrive on the global stage.
According to the minister, only about 7% of youth have access to structured digital training, while nearly 60% of youth across sub-Saharan Africa lack foundational digital training. This is a barrier that the One Million Coders program aims to break.
The program will initially be available to youth in four locations (Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Bolgatanga) and later spread out nationwide. Initial courses for the pilot include certified cybersecurity professional, certified network support technician, certified data protection manager, certified data protection expert, certified data protection officer, certified data protection professional, and data analyst associate.
“All the courses published for this program will have fundamentals of coding embedded in the course delivery. There will also be an elective coding course to be part of the entire program, and all the courses will be run simultaneously in all the regions,” Mr. George revealed.
As of Wednesday, April 16, the ministry had received 91,847 applications, exceeding the expectation of the ministry to do the pilot with 260 students.
On his part, President John Dramani Mahama stated that the program is not just a fulfilled promise, rather, an intentional move towards building a knowledge-based innovation-driven economy, one in which the people are equipped to create solutions, generate jobs and be able to compete, globally.
He made mention of some of the countries that have utilized digital programs to develop their countries into tech destinations. Some of such countries are Estonia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the president, this program has the potential of creating hundreds of jobs. Also, with this program, the nation is reshaping its approach to learning, by integrating digital education and coding into university and technical schools’ curricula. This is to make digital literacy a permanent strategic part of our educational system.
“To the youth of Ghana, I say, this program is for you. Take it and own it. Let this be your lunch bag into innovation, entrepreneurship, and global relevance. You’re not just participants of this initiative, you are the architects of Ghana’s digital future,” he urged the youth.
The president finally expressed immense gratitude to partners for their investment and support, and called on more organizations both local international to join in on this mission. He also commended the Minister of Communication and his team for the speed, vision, and diligence.
“Technology is not just a tool, it is a force for equality, social mobility, transparency, and empowerment, if it is used wisely and inclusively. But to achieve this, it must be accessible to all and guided by a clear national purpose. This is that purpose,” the president said, officially declaring the One Million Coders program, duly launched.
Also present at the launch were ministers of state, presidential staffers, regional ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of development partners, heads of institutions, directors in the ministry, party executives, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Civil Society advocates, and the media.
