The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has initiated a training program for 1,000 girls in the Northern Region, as part of the Girls-in-ICT programme.

The training, commencing on Monday, aims to equip the participants with essential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills, including coding, cyber security, and website development.

The selected girls come from all 16 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in the region, namely Mion, Karaga, Tolon, Kumbungu, Savelugu, Tamale, Nanton, Sagnarigu, Kpandai, Gushegu, Tatali-Sangule, Nanumba South, Nanumba North, Yendi, Saboba, and Zabzugu.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and shared with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, it was highlighted that the Girls-In-ICT programme was established in 2012 by the International Telecommunications Union.

The program aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider pursuing studies and careers in the expanding field of ICTs.

The statement said: “The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, under the stewardship of Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, since 2017, adopted the initiative as a platform to equip girls between the ages of nine and 15 years (Upper Primary to Junior High School) with knowledge and skills in basic ICT and coding.

“The Girls-In-ICT programme is all about breaking the myth around women involving themselves in ICT,” the statement added. “After the training, the girls will partake in District and Regional level competitions in ICT, as well as a mentorship and climax session from July 31 to August 01, where the best 100 girls to emerge out of the competition, will be given awards (laptops and certificates),” the statement added.

As part of the Girls-in-ICT Programme, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has conducted training sessions for 100 teachers from all districts in the region. These teachers have been equipped with relevant ICT skills to enable them to effectively train the girls in the region.

Following the training, an Open Day experience will be organized, where the top 100 girls will have the opportunity to visit various offices in Accra. They will have the chance to tour the facilities of Mobile Network Operators, companies in the ICT industry, and selected agencies of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. This experience will provide them with valuable interactions, especially with women who are working in the industry.

The aim of this initiative is to encourage and empower girls to pursue studies and careers in the field of ICT, creating a more inclusive and diverse environment in the technology sector.

It mentioned some achievements under the programme from 2017 to 2022 saying “8,000 girls have been trained and mentored (Ashanti, Western, Central, Oti, Western North, North East, Bono, Bono-East and Ahafo, 800 teachers trained to train more girls in ICT beyond the programme, 43 cyber laboratories have been set up with 120 more being set up this year, and 1,267 laptops given to teachers and top-performing girls.”

It said this year, the Ministry targeted 5,000 girls and 500 teachers from five regions including Savannah, Northern, Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra to benefit from the Girls-in-ICT programme with Savannah Region already benefiting from the programme in May, this year.