According to ghana news agency:ong session. The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, with support from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence (KACE), and MTN.
The training, drawing participants from all eleven districts in the Upper Region, aims to equip young girls with practical digital skills and introduce them to the vast opportunities within the ICT sector. This initiative is a key part of Ghana's broader digital transformation agenda, emphasizing equitable access to digital tools and education for all citizens.
Dr. Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, in a speech read on his behalf during the opening of the workshop, stressed the government's commitment to bridging the gender digital divide by providing ICT skills to young girls. He highlighted that empowering girls with ICT skills would transform communities and drive national development.
Participants were encouraged to focus on the lessons to fully understand the course, enabling them to effectively deliver the Girls-in-ICT programme. The trained teachers are expected to impart their skills to over 1,000 girls from various communities in the region. These girls will participate in district and regional level ICT competitions, with awards for the best 100 participants.
The district and regional level ICT competitions, an annual event since 2012, aim to empower schoolgirls and youth to pursue careers in the ICT industry. This year's programme, under the theme 'Girls-in-ICT for inclusive Digital Transformation,' will also include capacity-building sessions for teachers to enhance digital literacy instruction in classrooms.
Mr. Nartey emphasized that the Girls-in-ICT initiative seeks to address gender disparity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and encourage greater female participation in Ghana's digital economy. He urged teachers to continue assisting and encouraging girls to pursue ICT careers, aiming to train 3,000 girls in the Volta, Upper West, and Savannah regions, with 1,000 beneficiaries in the Upper West Region.
Mr. Charles Lwanga Puosuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, urged teachers to seize the opportunity provided by the National Girls-in-ICT Initiative to empower young girls with digital skills. He stressed the importance of stakeholders committing to the success of the programme.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations for selecting the region for this capacity-building exercise. He highlighted the importance of preparing teachers as torchbearers of digital empowerment for young girls, stating that ICT is currently the backbone of every economy and society.
Mr. Razak Abdul Korah, the Upper West Regional Director of Education, expressed delight in hosting the programme, noting its potential to enhance the capacity building of girls to participate actively in the ICT space.
