Ho, Ghana – One hundred teachers in the Volta Region are undergoing a week-long Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Ho, an initiative by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations (MoCDTI) in collaboration with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council. The program, part of the National Girls-in-ICT initiative, aims to equip these educators with crucial Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills, enabling them to mentor 1,000 girls across 18 districts in the region.
The workshop curriculum includes Web Development, Cybersecurity, Coding, Game and Animation Development, and general ICT literacy, all designed to enhance the teachers’ capacity and help bridge the digital gender divide. Mr. Austin Hessin, Director of Policy, Planning, Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPBME) at MoCDTI, speaking on behalf of Minister Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), underscored the initiative’s importance in addressing global gender disparities in digital access, citing an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2023 report that indicates nearly 250 million more men than women are online globally.
Mr. Hessin highlighted that the Girls-in-ICT program, spearheaded by the Ministry in partnership with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (KACE), has so far trained 14,981 girls and 1,192 teachers nationwide. He noted that KACE experts are facilitating the current training, focusing on both technical skills and pedagogical approaches. Financial support for the initiative comes from MTN Ghana and American Tower Corporation, with logistical backing from local government agencies.
Mr. Augustus Awity, Chief Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, linked the Girls-in-ICT initiative to broader national education priorities, revealing that over GH¢1.2 billion has been allocated for teacher training in the 2025 National Budget. Mr. Francis Yao Agbemadi, Volta Regional Director of Education, also emphasized the need for supportive learning environments to encourage girls in technology careers.
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