One Million Coders Will Transform Ghana, Africa’s Economy — Sam George

The launch of the One Million Coders program marked a defining moment in Ghana’s digital transformation agenda under President John Dramani Mahama.

In an address to a packed audience that included diplomats, ministers, parliamentarians, industry leaders, academia, party executives, and youth innovators, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, laid out a bold plan to equip Ghana’s young people with the digital skills required to thrive in a 21st-century economy.

Framed as a strategic social contract, the program aims not only to tackle youth unemployment but to position Ghana as a regional digital hub. The Minister welcomed the audience and emphasized the national scope of the initiative and the urgency of the challenge ahead.

“I stand before you today with immense pride and a deep sense of purpose as we gather for the official launch of the 1,000,000 Coders program. This is a bold and transformative initiative that marks a new chapter in Ghana’s digital journey.

“This is not just a program. It is a promise to our youth, to our future, and to the idea that no Ghanaian should be left behind in a digital age.”

He described the One Million Coders program as a flagship of the Mahama administration and a demonstration of its swift commitment to electoral promises, noting the launch took place within the 120-day social contract window promised by President Mahama.

“The 1,000,000 Coders program is driven by a simple but powerful objective: to equip our young people with the digital skills they need, not just to survive, but to lead in the twenty-first-century economy.”

The Minister highlighted the rapidly evolving technological landscape and the danger of excluding youth from the digital economy.

He noted that only 7% of Ghanaian youth have access to structured digital training, while nearly 60% of youth in Sub-Saharan Africa lack foundational digital skills. “This gap isn’t just a missed opportunity. It’s a barrier to progress, and we must break it down.”

The program’s pilot phase has already attracted massive interest. Although only 260 participants were planned initially, overwhelming demand forced the Ministry to double enrolment.

“Mister President, we planned to do the pilot with 260 students, but within the first four hours of announcing, we had over 4,000 applications. We decided to do a double track and do 520.

“As of this morning, about thirty minutes ago, the number of applications we have received is 91,847 applications. This speaks to the visionary nature of your plan and vision to transform our digital ecosystem.”

According to the Minister, the unexpected and overwhelming numbers is proof of the timeliness and necessity of the program. He was optimistic that with the right attitude and implementation structures, the program would be a powerhouse for the nation.

The Coders Curriculum

Training will be anchored at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, which has developed a unified national curriculum.

The courses will range from beginner to advanced levels across multiple disciplines. Initial courses include cybersecurity, network support, data protection, and data analysis.

“All the courses published for this program will have fundamentals of coding embedded in the course delivery. There will also be elective coding courses to be run as part of the entire program.”

He stressed that the curriculum will be rolled out simultaneously in all regions of the country, ensuring national reach and uniform quality. The program will also create space for those traditionally excluded from digital education.

“In Ghana, nearly one in five youth are not in education, employment, or training and digital exclusion remains highest among rural populations, women, and persons with disabilities. They will be factored under this program.”

Employment and Startups:

The initiative ties directly into the 24-hour economy vision and is designed to create real employment opportunities through both public and private sector partnerships.

“Training 1,000,000 coders is more than a number. It’s a commitment to innovation, problem solving, and preparing our youth to drive Ghana’s industrialisation and economic diversification from the front lines.

“The benefits of this initiative are numerous. By creating a pool of digitally skilled individuals in differently skilled areas, we’ll be able to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in our nation”

Training a million coders is expected to unlock a wave of innovation and entrepreneurship never before experienced that will drive industrialisation and economic diversification.

The program’s impact is designed to go beyond job readiness. It is expected to stimulate the development of “startups, improve education, boost digital literacy,” and enhance Ghana’s global competitiveness.

With the country facing a youth unemployment rate of about 12%, and yet the “digital economy projected to create millions of new jobs across Africa by 2030,” the government hopes this initiative, in collaboration with the private sector, will not only expand Ghana’s access to opportunity but also increase its relevance.

The Minister acknowledged the strong support from international partners including MTN Group, Telecel Ghana, C Squared, Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, ALX, the Tony Blair Institute and others.

“Today, we welcome not only the beginning of a flagship initiative, but also your support, your ideas, and your collaboration as key partners in this journey. To our youth, our stakeholders, and every guest present, you’re part of this vision”

He concluded by urging the youth of Ghana to rise to the opportunity. “We need your creativity, your passion, and your talent to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in our nation.”

“Together, let us launch this program with purpose, unity, and ambition. Together, let us code the future of Ghana and Africa” he concluded.