The One Million Coders programme is set for a massive boost as government's delivers 8,500 laptops to centres nationwide as part of efforts to improve access to digital skills.

Speaking during an appearance on Joy Super Morning Show on Monday, May 11, Director of Research and Innovation (GI-KACE) and Member of the OMCP Implementation Committee Fred Yeboah revealed that the devices are intended to support trainees who may not own laptops or have reliable internet access.

However Mr Yeboah clarified that, the laptops were not to be given to individuals but to enhance the infrastructure at the respective centeres nationwide.

“We have already distributed 8,500 laptops.These laptops are meant for the centres that are used for the training,” he explained.

According to him, all 158 centres currently participating in the initiative have been equipped with the devices, while internet connectivity is also being deployed to support online learning.

The One Million Coders Programme, a flagship digital skills initiative by the government, seeks to train thousands of Ghanaians in technology-related fields as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment and strengthen the country’s digital economy.

Given the varying backgrounds of the participants, Mr Yeboah indicated that, different study and training modules has been adopted to serven everyone.

Mr Yeboah said the programme uses different learning models to accommodate participants from varying backgrounds and locations.

He explained that some courses are self-paced and can be completed using personal devices such as mobile phones, tablets, or laptops, while others require trainees to attend designated centres for online or face-to-face instruction.

“For all the 158 centres that I’ve mentioned, all of them have been provided with laptops,” he stated.

The GI-KACE official added that 16 centres — one in each region — have also been selected to pilot face-to-face instruction with dedicated trainers on site.

In early January, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George announced a partnership with the Ministry of Education to roll out one of the government-led technology training programmes, the One Million Coders in 100 constituencies by Q1 (First Quarter) in 2026.

Sector Minister Samuel Nartey George made this known during a visit by Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the ministry on Thursday, January 22. He said the partnership aims to train at least 400,000 young people in the targeted constituencies, with the initiative expected to be extended to selected tertiary institutions, enabling university students to benefit from digital skills training.

“We’re hopeful that this year, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, we’ll roll this out in 100 constituencies by the end of the first quarter, and in at least four of the traditional universities, so that our university students can also take advantage. The target is to train at least 400,000 people this year under the One Million Coders programme,” he said.

Given the financial cost involved and the state of the government’s coffers, the Prampram Member of Parliament (MP) revealed that he has engaged several technology companies to support the programme, particularly in funding and technical training.

“Given the financial constraints, we decided to reach out to Big Tech to support the President’s flagship programme, and it has been very well received,” he stated, adding that agreements have already been reached with companies including Google, MTN, Huawei, and Telecel, with discussions ongoing with Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon.

According to the minister, the collaborations are intended to ensure that beneficiaries of the One Million Coders programme receive internationally certified training from leading global technology companies.

“We’ve signed partnership agreements with Google. We’ve signed partnership agreements with MTN, Huawei, and Telecel. As we speak, we are in conversations with Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon to also sign technical training arrangements so that the beneficiaries of the 1 million coders program are undertaking these internationally certified programs by these Big Tech companies,” he added.