The government is to train 50,000 persons with disabilities under the One Million Coders Programme as part of efforts to promote inclusive digital skills development and expand participation in the country’s digital economy.
The initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations.
The University of Ghana (UG), Legon, will serve as one of the implementing institutions because of its facilities and expertise in supporting persons with disabilities through technology-enabled learning.
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the initiative at the University of Ghana during the presentation of 2,000 laptops to the university under the One Million Coders Programme.
He also appealed to technology companies, telecommunications operators, financial institutions and other corporate organisations to support the programme through internships, mentorship, scholarships, equipment and employment pathways for beneficiaries.
Commitment
Mr Goerge said the government was committed to ensuring that the benefits of the One Million Coders Programme reached every segment of society, including persons with disabilities.
He said the initiative formed part of the government’s broader objective of building a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.
The minister said digital skills and artificial intelligence literacy had become essential for participation in the modern economy and should be accessible to every Ghanaian regardless of physical ability.
He said the success of the One Million Coders Programme would depend on strong collaboration between government, academia and industry.
He said the private sector stood to benefit directly from a workforce equipped with practical digital skills and therefore had an important role to play in the success of the programme.
UG’s role
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the university was committed to ensuring that the One Million Coders Programme was accessible to all students, including persons with disabilities.
She said the university already had facilities and expertise for teaching and supporting students with disabilities, including an assistive technology laboratory.
Prof. Amfo said with support from the ministry, the university was prepared to establish dedicated One Million Coders training centres equipped to serve persons with disabilities and enable them to participate fully in the programme.
She said the initiative was consistent with the university’s commitment to inclusive education and expanding opportunities for students to acquire practical digital skills.
Prof. Amfo said the university would, from next semester, integrate four certifications under the One Million Coders Programme into a compulsory Level 100 course on Digital Literacy and Applied Artificial Intelligence.
