The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu (MP), speaking on behalf of the sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George (MP), at the 2025 National Girls-in-ICT Celebration, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to empowering girls and women through digital skills development to ensure inclusive participation in Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
Addressing the climax of the Celebration held at the Franco Conference Hall in Wa, in the Upper West Region, the Deputy Minister said the programme remains a cornerstone of government’s digital reset agenda, aimed at equipping the youth, particularly girls, with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills needed to thrive in a modern digital economy.
Delivering the Minister’s speech, Sukparu said emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Metaverse, Coding, and Data Analytics are driving global economic growth, and Ghana must position itself strategically to benefit.
“Technologies and connectivity are rapidly transforming economies across the globe, and Ghana cannot afford to be an island,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the 2025 theme, “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” the Minister stressed the importance of ensuring that women and girls are active participants in Ghana’s digital journey.
He revealed that through the Girls-in-ICT Initiative, the Ministry trains 3,000 girls and 300 ICT/STEM teachers annually across three administrative regions, including girls with special needs, to ensure inclusivity.
Since its inception in 2012, the initiative has trained 17,981 girls and 1,792 ICT/STEM teachers, established 97 cyber labs, distributed 2,450 laptops, and refurbished several ICT laboratories in top-performing schools across the country.
This year’s edition celebrated 1,000 girls who underwent two weeks of intensive training in Basic ICT, Web Development, Cybersecurity, Game and Animation Development, Machine Learning, and Coding. The best 100 girls and 10 top teachers received laptops and certificates, while trophies and cash prizes were awarded to the top three performers. The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) also committed to refurbishing ICT laboratories in the winners’ schools.
The Minister, through his representative, also announced the Ministry’s One Million Coders Programme, launched by the President to build youth capacity in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. He called on parents, teachers, development partners, and the private sector to support the initiative to ensure its sustainability and impact.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Ministry’s partners, MTN, American Tower Corporation (ATC), GIFEC, and GI-KACE, for their continued collaboration, emphasizing that government remains determined to make digital literacy a right and not a privilege.
The National Girls-in-ICT Programme continues to be a key driver of Ghana’s inclusive digital agenda, bridging the gender divide and preparing the next generation of female leaders for opportunities in the fast-evolving global technology landscape.
