Barcelona: MTN Group and the Government of Ghana have signed an agreement to jointly advance the 'One Million Coders Programme', a flagship initiative aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with essential skills in artificial intelligence, coding, and digital technology as part of the country's broader digital transformation strategy.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr. Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, and Mr. Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona. This partnership is considered a key part of the new administration under President John Mahama.
The statement from MTN Ghana, shared with the Ghana News Agency, highlighted the Minister's enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting the potential to enhance the capacity of young Ghanaians in emerging technological fields such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, data governance, and cybersecurity. The Minister emphasized MTN's role in bolstering this initiative, particularly as part of its 25th anniversary investments in Ghana, including the donation of a building to be used as a center for excellence in AI and software development.
Mr. Ralph Mupita expressed gratitude towards the Minister and his team for their constructive discussions and emphasized MTN's commitment to understanding and supporting Ghana's digital strategy. He acknowledged the importance of creating an enabling environment to build a robust digital ecosystem that aligns with Ghana's socioeconomic goals.
The statement further quoted Mr. Mupita on the necessity for Africa to develop its own large language models and cultivate homegrown talent in software engineering and coding to remain competitive globally.
Mr. Ebenezer Asante, MTN Group Senior Vice President for Markets, also reiterated MTN's commitment to the initiative, aligning it with MTN's strategic objectives to foster African development through collaborative projects with Ghana.
The MoU builds on previous initiatives like the MTN Skills Academy, launched in 2023 across several MTN operating countries, including Ghana. The Academy aims to provide digital and financial skills training, offering courses in coding, web development, digital marketing, and data analytics, with a goal to ensure that 60% of youth and adults achieve basic digital proficiency by the end of 2025.
