Less than 6 hours after the high-profile launch of Ghana’s One Million Coders initiative, a wave of public concern is emerging on social media, as applicants express frustration over difficulties in completing registration and delays in receiving aptitude test results.
The ambitious programme, championed by the Ministry of Communications, Digitalisation and Innovation, aims to train one million Ghanaians in vital digital skills to prepare them for future employment opportunities, particularly under the government’s transformative 24-hour economy agenda. But the overwhelming demand appears to be putting early strain on the initiative’s digital infrastructure.
Despite the hiccups, Communications and Digitalisation Minister Sam George revealed that as of Wednesday, April 16, more than 90,000 applicants had successfully enrolled via the online platform a number far exceeding the Ministry’s initial pilot target of just 260 trainees. “The response has been phenomenal,” George stated, “and we are working swiftly with our technical teams to resolve any platform issues and ensure a smooth experience for every applicant.”
The programme is being delivered through the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, supported by affiliated regional learning centres nationwide. It offers structured training in high-demand fields such as; Cybersecurity, Data Analysis, and Network Support, Data Protection (including officer, manager, expert, and professional certifications). These courses are designed to cater to all experience levels from beginners to advanced learners and include integrated coding modules and electives to deepen technical proficiency.
However, as excitement turned to anxiety for thousands struggling to complete their registration or awaiting test feedback, hashtags such as #OneMillionCoders, #CodingForGhana, and #FixThePortal began trending across X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook. Applicants including students, jobseekers, tech-curious professionals, and youth from underprivileged backgrounds are urging the Ministry to improve responsiveness and scale the platform to accommodate the influx.
Honourable
What's happening??
More than 5 days ago… Meanwhile when we applied they said 10th April the aptitude test will be ready…. Nothing heard and the program is being launched?@1BongoIdeas @AnnanPerry @gyaigyimii @FelixKwakyeOfo1 @gyaigyimii @AnnanPerry @samgeorgegh pic.twitter.com/0PTAUkf310
— Wu_Jing (@wujing066) April 16, 2025@samgeorgegh @MoCDTI I have registered the program and you send me link to complete the aptitude test but the test cannot be found there. pic.twitter.com/qbSgZEukFs
— Imma (@Koo__nie) April 16, 2025Dear Sir, I applied and took the aptitude test which I'm sure I aced. I have been checking my email and sms whether I made the shortlist but have received no information. Dear Sir we would like to know even if we have not made it so we can stop checking.
Thank you Sir.
— Haadi.dart (@_A__H__A_) April 16, 2025The One Million Coders programme has been praised for its inclusivity, targeting not just urban youth but also rural populations, women, and persons with disabilities. It is designed to democratize digital opportunity and offer “a pathway to a brighter future” for Ghanaians from all walks of life.
The Ministry has acknowledged the technical setbacks and is actively working with developers and learning centres to scale capacity and address bottlenecks.
Industry watchers remain optimistic. With major private sector partners including MTN, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google, Telesel Ghana, ALX, and the Tony Blair Institute backing the initiative, expectations are high that the programme will overcome its teething problems and deliver on its transformative promise.
