At the official launch of the One Million Coders Program in Accra, Communications and Digitalisation Minister Sam George said the government intends to implement a bold national plan to equip Ghana’s youth with critical digital skills, positioning them for emerging jobs under his government’s 24-hour economy policy.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the Minister described the initiative as a “strategic investment in our youth,” aimed at addressing Ghana’s 12% youth unemployment rate by building a digitally literate and future-ready workforce.
“Training one million coders is more than a number. It’s a commitment to innovation, problem solving, and preparing our youth to drive Ghana’s industrialisation and economic diversification,” he stated.
The programme is launching in four pilot locations with plans for nationwide expansion. Within just four hours of its announcement, the initiative attracted over 4,000 applicants despite an original target of only 260 students. By the time of the launch, applications had surged to over 90,000, prompting an immediate scale-up to a double-track model that will train 520 participants in the first cohort.
The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre, the institution that would host these trainings, has developed a standardized curriculum, spanning beginner to advanced levels in a variety of high-demand digital fields. Initial courses include certifications such as: Certified Cybersecurity Professional, Certified Network Support Technician, Certified Data Protection Manager/Officer/Expert, Data Analyst Associate
Each course integrates fundamental coding modules, with additional elective coding courses offered to deepen technical proficiency. All regions of Ghana will benefit from a simultaneous course rollout, authorities have said.
Key private sector partners backing the initiative include MTN Group, Telesel Ghana, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, C2, ALX, and the Tony Blair Institute, among others. These partners will contribute to the programme’s sustainability, ensure curriculum relevance, and create pathways for internships, mentorship, and employment.
“This initiative is a call to action. We need your creativity, your passion, and your talent to build a new digital Ghana,” the minister said further.
