One thousand girls from the Volta Region have been equipped with digital skills in coding, web development, cybersecurity, game and animation development as part of an initiative to empower them to pursue careers in technology and innovation.
Dubbed “Girls-In-ICT”, the programme drew participants from all districts across the region for a two-week intensive training session, where they were introduced to essential digital skills to prepare them for global opportunities in the ICT space.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, also forms part of a broader national effort to bridge the gender gap in technology and promote equal access to digital opportunities for girls and young women.
The programme climaxed in Ho last Wednesday, with an awards ceremony where 154 laptops were presented to outstanding participants, teachers and coordinators.
The top three girls also received cash prizes, while teachers and Volta regional girl child education officers were recognised.
Transformation
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said acquisition of digital skills was not a privilege but a right.
He underscored the transformative impact of the initiative since its inception in 2012, saying “remarkably, many of these girls had never used a computer before this programme.
Now, they are building games, writing code, and solving problems with confidence.
That is the transformative power of opportunity.”
Mr George said since 2012, nearly 16,000 girls and 1,400 teachers had been trained, with over 97 cyber labs established, and many laptops distributed across the country.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to youth empowerment through technology, citing the One Million Coders programme, which aims to train a million youth in cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, and coding over four years.
Under the programme, 100,000 youth would benefit this year alone. The minister thanked partners like Telecel, MTN and Huawei for their support, while calling for further collaboration.
Digital age
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the Girls-in-ICT initiative as a transformative force unlocking the potential of young girls to thrive in the digital age.
She said that every website built and line of code written was part of a wider revolution affirming that girls from the Volta Region could also lead in tech.
“Each girl trained becomes an ambassador, an advocate for technology, gender equality, creativity and innovation.
“We envision a Ghana where girls and boys will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in boardrooms, innovation hubs, and global platforms; where technology is not a male domain but a national opportunity which is open to all,” the minister added.
Agenda
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, said the initiative was aligned with his three-point regional development agenda: promoting peace for investment, strengthening local governance, and collaborating with national institutions to realise the government’s vision.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, called for increased investment in ICT infrastructure, particularly in rural areas by providing the necessary tools and environment for digital learning, including targeted scholarships, mentorship, and structural support to bridge the rural-urban digital divide.
