Government plans to establish about 100 digital training centres across the country as part of efforts to equip young people with market-relevant technology skills and strengthen the country’s position in the global digital services industry.
The initiative forms part of the government’s One Million Coders Programme, which aims to train young people in coding and other digital competencies to support job creation and expand Ghana’s participation in the global business process outsourcing (BPO) market.
The plan was highlighted during a courtesy call by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa ahead of the launch of the RoboTechLabs Project, an initiative focused on advancing robotics and engineering innovation. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to equip students with practical digital and technological skills.
The minister indicated that institutions such as UMaT could play a strategic role in scaling the programme and that the university has the potential to support training for up to 5,000 participants in the initial phase.
Beyond coding, the training programme is expected to incorporate specialised areas including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and engineering, as the government seeks to broaden the range of digital skills available to the workforce. The discussions also highlighted the importance of developing local artificial intelligence datasets that reflect African contexts, as well as the need to retain Ghanaian talent capable of building and managing such data systems.
Participants also examined the role of improved data harmonisation across government agencies to support innovation and enhance the effective use of data in national development planning.
The engagement further explored how digital innovation could contribute to Ghana’s planned 24-hour economy policy, alongside measures to strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem through initiatives such as the proposed Innovation and Startup Bill. The meeting brought together officials from the university and representatives from development partners including GIZ and International Business and Engineering Solutions (IBES).
