Pilot Batch of 859 Youth Gain Digital Skills as Gov’t Expands 1M Coders Programme
Ghana’s digital transformation agenda is beginning to bear fruit, with 859 young people completing training under the pilot phase of the One Million Coders Programme, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament in his 2025 mid-year budget review.
Launched in April, the initiative aims to equip a new generation with globally competitive digital skills to meet rising demand for tech talent. Participants underwent intensive training in areas such as data analysis, cybersecurity, and networking, delivered by the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE).
For the newly trained coders, the programme offers a pathway to better employment prospects in a fast-growing global digital economy. Many of them are expected to find work with local startups, IT service providers, and international companies seeking remote talent, potentially easing youth unemployment and reducing reliance on low-skilled migration.
GI-KACE has also provided multi-level training to another 1,603 individuals and unveiled Nyansapo OS, a locally developed enterprise-grade digital solution, marking a major milestone in Ghana’s innovation drive. Meanwhile, the Girls in ICT Programme trained 1,000 girls in coding and web design in the Volta Region, addressing the gender gap in technology.
Looking ahead, government plans to scale the One Million Coders Programme nationwide, with a target of 100,000 trained coders. Four new courses in Deep Learning, AI, IoT, and advanced cybersecurity will be introduced to keep pace with global industry trends.
Analysts say sustained investment in digital skills could position Ghana as a competitive hub for tech talent, boosting employment and attracting foreign investment. For the 859 pilot graduates, the focus now shifts to turning their new skills into tangible jobs and entrepreneurial ventures.
