The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has announced the full-scale rollout of the “One Million Coders” initiative, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s “Reset Ghana” agenda. Following a successful pilot phase that saw a staggering 94,000 applications within just 48 hours, the program is set to officially commence nationwide on May 1.
The sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George confirmed that 130 learning centers have been established across all 16 regions to facilitate the training. To support this infrastructure, an initial batch of 6,500 customized Lenovo Intel Core i5 laptops is being dispatched from a total government stock of 20,000 units.
”This is not just about ticking a political box,” the Minister stated during the announcement. “It is about scaling, re-scaling, and upscaling the next generation of Ghana’s ICT professionals. We want to ensure that when we report back after four years, we are not just providing a number, but a detailed account of how this has improved employment mobility and demographic growth.”
The rollout is a collaborative effort involving several key agencies, including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, and Ghana Digital Centers Limited. The ministry has also partnered with 12 public and private universities—including KNUST and the University of Ghana—to integrate the program into campus life.
Addressing the technical challenges faced during the pilot, Sam George revealed that nearly 40,000 “fake” or spam applications were filtered out. The new registration portal, set to reopen next week, will feature enhanced security, including One-Time Password (OTP) verification and integration with the National Identification Authority (NIA) to ensure only serious applicants benefit.
The private sector has also played a pivotal role, with MTN Ghana contributing approximately $2 million. This funding has secured 2,000 laptops specifically for five partner universities. Additionally, the government has secured agreements with agencies such as “II Africa” and the Chamber of Business Outsourcing Organizations (BOSAC) to place 200,000 graduates in remote and local jobs.
”We are building a whole pipeline,” the Minister added. “From training to job placement, we are ensuring that our citizens can properly account for the investments being made in their future.”
Employment Boost
Meanwhile, in a move to ensure the sustainability of the One Million Coders project and provide immediate economic opportunities, the Minister further announced the recruitment of 130 young Ghanaians with IT backgrounds.
These individuals have been appointed as constituency-level directors, tasked with managing the 130 learning centers currently being rolled out across the country. Their responsibilities include maintaining the newly deployed equipment and providing administrative and technical support to the learners.
The Minister noted that this recruitment is part of a broader strategy to expand the project to all 276 constituencies. “In every center that we are rolling out, the government is employing a new constituency-level director. Today, 130 young Ghanaians have received their appointment letters and are ready to serve,” the Minister said.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
