The government has presented about 8,500 laptops to support the nationwide rollout of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP), aimed at equipping young people with digital skills for the global economy.
The initiative, described as a flagship programme, is designed to enhance employability and position Ghana competitively in the digital space.
Speaking at the presentation in Accra, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the rollout follows a careful assessment of the pilot phase.
“This whole programme is not just about ticking a political box and saying we’ve done this; it’s about scaling, re-scaling and upscaling the next generation of Ghana’s ICT professionals,” Mr George stated.
He explained that the laptops would be deployed to 130 learning centres across all 16 regions, as well as selected universities, to support training in coding, artificial intelligence and other digital skills.
According to him, each centre will receive 50 laptops, bringing the total allocation for community-based training to about 6,500 devices.
In addition, about 2,000 laptops have been secured through private sector support for distribution to universities, with more expected from government.
Mr George noted that the laptops have been customised to support structured learning in emerging technologies.
He recalled that the pilot phase of the programme attracted about 94,000 applications within 48 hours, although only about 1,000 participants were eventually trained.
To promote inclusivity, the Minister said the government is working with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to allocate 50,000 slots to persons with disabilities through the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations.
“We are collaborating… to include persons with disabilities… while ensuring that others outside the federation can also apply through the main portal,” he said.
Mr George highlighted the role of key agencies, including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, Ghana Digital Centres Limited, and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, in implementing the programme.
He also commended private sector partners such as MTN Ghana for supporting the initiative.
Beyond training, the Minister disclosed that agreements have been reached with industry players to create employment opportunities for graduates.
“We’ve signed a memorandum of understanding with an agency called II Africa that has agreed to take 100,000 of our graduates and place them in remote jobs,” he said, adding that the Business Outsourcing Services Association Ghana is also expected to absorb another 100,000 graduates.
Mr George further indicated that each of the 130 centres will be managed by a technical officer, creating jobs for young people.
He stressed that the programme will be monitored closely to track participation, completion rates and employment outcomes, ensuring accountability and impact.
The One Million Coders Programme forms part of broader government efforts to build a skilled digital workforce and expand opportunities in Ghana’s growing technology sector.
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