Government has earmarked 50,000 training slots for persons with disabilities (PWDs) under the national One Million Coders Programme, in an effort to deepen digital inclusion and equip more PWDs with globally recognised ICT skills.
The allocation follows concerns over low participation during the pilot phase of the programme, where only nine of the 859 trainees were persons with disabilities. Officials say the new reserve is designed to ensure fairness and guarantee that PWDs benefit from Ghana’s ongoing digital transformation.
Mr Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, announced the initiative at the national commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in Accra.
He said the 50,000 slots would be shared across all 16 regions, adding that his Ministry was working with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) to identify eligible beneficiaries.
“This allocation is to ensure that PWDs are not left behind in Ghana’s digital transformation agenda,” he said.
The One Million Coders Programme, launched by President John Dramani Mahama in April, seeks to train one million Ghanaians over four years in coding, cybersecurity, data analytics and related digital fields.
Though implementation has been delayed, Mr George explained that the setback stemmed from ongoing efforts to secure internationally recognised certifications from Google, Microsoft and Cisco to enhance the employability of trainees.
“These globally accepted certificates will allow beneficiaries, including PWDs, to qualify for remote jobs with international companies, which often do not accept local certificates,” he said, assuring that the programme would commence early next year.
Mr George said the country had made progress in inclusive education, ICT accessibility guidelines and digital public services, but noted persistent barriers, including the high cost of digital tools for PWDs.
To address these challenges, he announced that government would enforce accessibility standards across all public digital platforms and work with the NCA and telecom operators to promote affordable and accessible communication services.
Plans include concessionary data packages and improved customer service channels tailored for PWDs.
He commended the NCA for initiating discussions with device manufacturers to ensure all mobile devices imported into the country meet minimum accessibility standards by 2026.
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening disability-inclusive policies and supporting assistive technologies.
She said the review of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006, was nearing completion ahead of submission to Cabinet.
She added that the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project had procured desktops, laptops, braille devices and accessible software for seven special schools to enhance digital literacy among students with disabilities.
Mr Suleman Salifu, Deputy Director of Technical Operations at the NCA, highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade the Authority’s digital platforms under the Accessibility-Based Applications Project (ABAP), which aims to improve usability for people with visual, auditory and motor impairments.
He said the NCA remained committed to prioritising the needs of PWDs and other vulnerable groups as required under Act 769.
Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, President of the GFD, welcomed the reserved training slots and government’s broader focus on digital accessibility.
“This commitment marks a significant step toward breaking digital barriers for persons with disabilities. We look forward to effective implementation that delivers real opportunities,” he said.
