Ghana has officially unveiled a non-profit organization dubbed “Ghana Girls in ICT Trust” in a groundbreaking move to bridge the gender gap in technology, with an ambitious goal of providing comprehensive ICT training and support to more than 9,000 young women annually across all 16 regions of Ghana.
It aims to revolutionise ICT education for girls across the nation, building on over a decade of experiences in regional activation of the International Telecommunication Union’s Girls in ICT Day initiative, according to official statement from the Government.
The initiative comes in to inspire and equip the next generation of female tech leaders in Ghana by providing early exposure, quality training, and ongoing support, representing a significant step towards creating a more inclusive tech industry.
Speaking at the Climax ceremony of the Greater Accra Region edition of the Girls in ICT Initiative, on Wednesday, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said the Trust is created out of “the desire of her office to offer more girls a more in-depth training, with age appropriate content, and a developmental curriculum’.
“We thought of the value that global interaction and best practice competitive content would add to their training. We also thought of the difference a long term relationship with a role model working in ICT or STEM could make,” she said.
A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of community ICT labs across the country. These labs will serve as hubs for face-to-face and online training, providing accessible resources for girls in their local communities. The Trust plans to create or upgrade 50 such female-friendly ICT hubs annually.
The program is designed to cater to girls at various educational stages, from primary to tertiary levels while it will train a cohort of 32 Master trainers who will tour the country to recruit, train, and support 150 staff trainers annually. These trainers will be responsible for delivering high-quality ICT education to girls in schools throughout Ghana.
“We anticipate an annual impact of 5000 primary level girls (8 –11 years old) annually exposed to ICT and ICT opportunities, also informed about resources available to them via internet,” Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stated during the closing session of the Greater Accra Region edition of the Girls in ICT Initiative.
“3000 secondary level girls (13 –18 years old) annually certified in coding, cyber security, exposed to age-appropriate ICT related skills, and engaged with role models in ICT and STEM , · 1000 tertiary level girls (18 and above) annually paired with a mentor, placed in a STEM internship, short-term or full-time position, applying for graduate level programs in STEM, or positions in STEM · Virtual mentoring platform bringing GIICT graduates and participants together with supportive role models”
The programme will also see:
· Cohort of 32 Master trainers tasked to tour the country to recruit, train, and support staff trainers
· 150 staff trainers annually trained to provide training to girls in schools
· 50 ICT hubs created or upgraded annually to offer female friendly services, support, and guidance
The initiative has already garnered support from several prominent organizations, including USA for Africa, GCB Bank, Telecel Foundation, and UNDP.
Minister Owusu-Ekuful urged other stakeholders to join in this effort to empower girls, address gender inequality, and fuel Ghana’s digital transformation while assuring them This Trust will provide complete transparency and accountability.
