Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (MOCDTI), in partnership with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), has held an inception meeting with stakeholders in the Upper West Region ahead of the 2025 National Girls-in-ICT celebration.
The meeting brought together key officials, including representatives from the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Directorate of Education, Girl Child Education Officers, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and Directors of Education from all eleven districts in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), the Chief Director, Mr. Alexander Yaw Arphul, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bridging the gender digital divide through ICT skills training for girls.
He noted that the Girls-in-ICT initiative forms part of the Ministry’s wider digital empowerment agenda, which also includes programmes such as the One Million Coders initiative. He emphasised that the Girls-in-ICT programme, inspired by the International Telecommunication Union’s global Girls-in-ICT Day, has become a key platform for Ghana to advance inclusive digital transformation by providing technical training, mentorship, and exposure to ICT career opportunities.
He added that between 2023 and 2024, more than 5,000 girls were trained across five regions. For 2025, the Ministry is targeting 3,000 girls in the Volta, Upper West, and Savannah Regions, with 1,000 beneficiaries expected from the Upper West Region alone. The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing Esq., in remarks delivered on his behalf, expressed gratitude to the Ministry for selecting the region as one of the hosts for this year’s programme.
He underscored the initiative’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5, which focus on Quality Education and Gender Equality. Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing Esq., Minister, Upper West Region said: “A digital economy that excludes women is incomplete and unsustainable. But a digital economy that empowers girls and young women secures prosperity for all.”
The Regional Minister further called on stakeholders – including MMDCEs, parents, educators, traditional leaders, civil society, and the private sector – to collaborate in creating a safe and supportive environment for girls in ICT.
